etymological dictionary of greek mythology - grimmdemgol.units.it/pdf/demgol_en.pdf · with the...
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Etymological Dictionaryof Greek Mythology
wwwdemgolunitsit
Last update 14052017
LanguageEnglish
Number of terms 122
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
After 20 years of work the great digital and multilingual Etymological Dictionary of GreekMythology (Dizionario Etimologico della Mitologia Greca multilingue On Line (DEMGOL) is now(2013) operational It will be of great benefit to Schools and Universities that count humanitiesamong their program of studies and where approaching a knowledge which is the basis ofEuropean and more widely Western culturesrsquo development is deemed useful
The DEMGOL which has been translated almost entirely from Italian to Spanish and Portugueseand partially to French and Catalan provides teachers and students with immediate informationabout mythical names (especially of minor characters) with selected sources checked first-handand available in the most reliable and recent editions We hope to move forward with the Britishtranslation as only few items are now available in English These details are supplied with aninstantaneous effectiveness that is seriously lacking while consulting traditional printed volumesAbove all DEMGOL provides a reliable etymology of these names along with a brief discussionon any other interpretations that - according to the analysis and examination of the researchof ancient and modern linguists - appear to be refused When necessary names and terms ofmycenaean origin are carefully indicated A precise etymological index of ldquoNomina Homericardquo isabout to be completed as a special section of the Dictionary
We must not overlook the images (and links) apparatus whose enlargement is in progress Thisdoes not claim to document the immense amount of ancient iconic representations of Greek myth(for which there are already huge iconographic Lexicons usually very expensive) but seeks tohighlight the survival and effectiveness of ldquomythicalrdquo models in the arts and in modern cultureincluding mass-media from the Renaissance to present day and future
Our most important achievement is the preparation of all the resources in digital formats thatwill be available as PDF and E-PUB This will enable international users from Brazil to Francefrom Argentina to Italy from Mexico to Angola to consult DEMGOL by any Internet device such asNetbooks Tablets Smartphones and of course standard PCs and Macs
The work began in 1992 with Carla Zufferlirsquos PhD thesis and is now carried out under the directionof Ezio Pellizer with the past and present collaboration of many GRIMM members FrancescaMarzari Luisa Benincampi Stefano Di Brazzano Alberto Cecon Alberto Pavan Ilaria Sforza IngridLeschiutta Francesca Marzari and Franccediloise Leacutetoublon (HOMERICA group Grenoble) worked atthe French translation the Spanish translation was carried out by Aacutelvaro Ibaacutentildeez (Granada) andJoseacute Antonio Cluacutea Serena (Barcelona) and is currently mainly performed by Diana De Paco Serrano(Murcia) In Brazil Matheus Trevizam Tereza Virgiacutenia Manuela Ribeiro Barbosa and AntonioOrlando Dourado Lopes are very active The Catalan translation progresses especially thanks toVicky Alsina Daniel Ramon Xavier Riu e Nereida Villagra
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἈβαρβαρέηABARBAREAA naiad gave birth by the Trojan Bucolion to the twins Aesepus and Pedasus 2 (Hom Il 6 21-22 27-28) who were
killed in battle by Euryalus 1 In late sources she taught the art of healing wounds and other maladies to another of
her sons Euphorbus (Orph Lith 461-464)
Formation with expressive reduplication and a perhaps intensifying ἀ- of uncertain meaning who expresses themself
with confused language who babbles much () The etymology from ἀ- privative and βόρβορος mud suggested in
Pape-Benseler - in which case the name would mean lacking mud that is pure (fitting for a water nymph) - seems
unlikely likewise the etymology from ἀ- copulative the muddy one (Reichelt Zeitschr vergl Sprachforsch 43
1910 pp 96-97) which Mette (in Snell Lex fr Ep s v) rightly considers very uncertain The suggestion of Schol ad
Il 622 b deriving the name from an obscure ἀβέρβελλον abundant and confused does not seem very convincing
Category Female names
ἌβαςABAS1 Trojan warrior son of Eurydamas 2 killed by Diomedes (Hom Il 5 148) in other traditions he is the son of Poseidon
and the nymph Arethusa 2 More famously the ancient king of Argos son of Lynceus and Hypermnestra inventor of
the shield father of the twins Acrisius and Proetus (Apollod Bibl 2 2 1 Serv ad Aen 3 286) 3 A third Abas great-
grandchild of the preceding is son of the seer Melampus (Apollod Bibl 1 9 13)
The etymology is uncertain and like not of Greek formation as the suffix -nt- seems to show the sense of giant
proposed by Pape and Benseler with some doubt does not seem well grounded
Category Names of heroes
ἌβδηροςABDERUSSon of Hermes or of Poseidon and the nymph Thronia (Pind Paean 2 1-2 104-106) of Locrian origin erogravemenos of
Heracles whom he accompanied in search for the man-eating horses of Diomedes by which he was devoured (Apollod
Bibl 2 5 8) The hero founded near his tomb the city of Abdera on the coast of Thrace cf Hellan Lesb Fr 105
Fowler (= Steph Byz s v Ἄβδηρα) at the outlets of the river Nestos According to Philostratus who describes a
painting depicting in a lively fashion the achievements of A Imag 2 25 Heracles founded not only the city but also
established annual games including competitions in all sports except horse racing for understandable reasons
A connection with δῆρις fight (Rooms Classical Dictionary) - thus understanding the name to mean son of the battle
- does not seem likely It is perhaps connected to the Hesychian gloss ἄβδης microάστιξ (in Hipponax) in which case the
name would mean the man with the whip it could also be of non-Greek formation
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἈβίαABIAThe elderly nurse of Glenos the son of Heracles after the defeat of the Dorians led by the Heraclid Hyllus at the hands
of the Achaeans she retreated into Messenia to the city of Ira (perhaps one of the cities promised by Agamemnon to
Achilles) which the Heraclid Cresphontes renamed Abia after her (Pausan 4 30 1)
It does not seem that this name is related to the legendary people the Abioi (q v) It may nevertheless mean belonging
to the people of the Abioi
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ἌβιοιABIIA legendary people named at Homer Il 13 6 after the Hippemolgoi the Thracians and Mysians whom he gives the
epithet the most just of all men Zeus directed his gaze toward these peoples when he turned away from the events of
Troy They were identified by the ancients with the nomadic Scythians from whom even the wise Anacharsis may have
descended (Schol Hom Il ad loc) Elsewhere they are identified with the Thracian peoples perhaps to be equated
with the people that Aeschylus calls the Gabii in a fragment from Prom lib cited at Steph Byz s v (Aesch Fr 196
N = 329 M) Strabo drawing from Posidonius discusses these peoples at great length at 7 3 2-4
All of the various etymologies proposed by the ancients seem hypothetical running from long-lived (βίος) to experts
with the bow (βιός bow) or otherwise those who do not use bows in the last case the ἀ is interpreted as privative
and not epitactic (ie intensive) Alternatively it came to be interpreted as non-violent ἀ- βιαίοι (Schol ad Il 13
6 Etymol Magn s v)
Category Names of populations
ἌβληροςABLEROSTrojan warrior killed with a spear by Antilochos son of Nestor during a fierce battle fought between the Xanthos and
Simois rivers (Hom Il 6 32-33) There is no other notice of him
The scholion ad loc supposes an ἀ- that is perhaps privative and an unattested βλῶ βλήσω adj βληρός that is
difficult to interpret even the gloss in Hesychius ἀβληράmiddot ἡνία reins does not help much and still less recourse
to βλῆρ decoy trap snare (Wathelet Dictionn des Troyennes p 144 is also skeptical) Thus the personal name
remains unexplained
Category Names of heroes
ἈκακαλλίςACACALLISThis was the name of one of the daughters of Minos loved by Hermes and by Apollo who was the mother of Miletus
(Nicandr ap Anton Lib Metam 30 1) the young man with whom Minos fell madly in love Others say that she gave
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
birth by Hermes to Cydon (Pausan 8 53 4) or always by Apollo to the Cretan twins Phylakides and Philander who
were nursed by a she-goat (Pausan 10 16 5)
The name refers to the tamarisk according to Dioscor 1 89 or the narcissus cf Hesych s v and is probably of
Egyptian origin (Chantraine DELG)
Theme Transformation
ἈκαλανθίςACALANTISDaughter of King Pierus of Macedonia With her eight sisters she dared compete with the Muses in song and for this
they were transformed into birds Acalantis become a goldfinch (Anton Lib Metam 9)
The name means precisely goldfinch (DArcy Thompson A Glossary of Greek Birds pp 30 ss) and derives from
ἄκανθα which refers to various spiny plants like the thistle with metathesis from ἀκανθαλίς
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Transformation
ἈκάmicroαςACAMAS1 Thracian leader counted among the bravest an ally of the Trojans and co-commander with Peiroos (Hom Il 2
844-845 5 462-469) He was son of Eussoros and was killed by Ajax with a blow from his spear through the forehead
(Hom Il 6 7-10) 2 Son of Antenor and brother of Archelochos (Hom Il 2 822-823 11 60) he together with his
brother and Aeneias led the fourth contingent of Trojan soldiers (Hom Il 12 98-100) He prevailed in a confrontation
with Promachos avenging his brothers death and after warding off the attack of Peneleos (Hom Il 14 476-489)
died when he was shot in his right shoulder by Meriones while getting back into his chariot (Hom Il 16 342-344) 3
Son of Theseus and of Phaidra brother of Demophon (Diod Bibl 4 62) he became the object of Laodices desire and
had a son by her Munitos (Parth Narr amat 16) who was raised by Aithra during his return from Troy he landed in
Thrace where Phyllis too fell in love with him (Apollod Epit 6 16) on Cyprus he founded a colony and died when
he fell off a horse onto his sword (Tzetz ad Lycophr 494)
A Greek name it is an alpha-privative compound that is precisely the same form as the adjective ἀκάmicroας with a
privative prefix ἀ- and root καmicroα- to be derived from κάmicroνω work hard suffer intended here in the passive sense it
means the indefatigable For a similar formation cf Adamas Wathelet Dictionnaire des Troyens n 17 pp 242-249
von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 63 a p 166 Room Roomrsquos Classical Dictionary s v p 20)
Category Names of heroes
ἌκαστοςACASTUSSon of the king of Iolchus Pelias and of Anaxibia participated in the expedition of the Argonauts and in the hunt for
the boar of Calydon (Apollod Bibl 1910 916 927 3133 137-8)
It could be a compound of the verb κέκασmicroαι to excel shine and of ἀ- privative it would therefore mean he
who does not shine rightly Carnoy (DEMGR) points out that such a name would not be very fitting for a hero for
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
which reason it is better to take the ἀ- as an intensifier and to understand the name as he who shines much the
splendid (cf anche von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 151 and Scholz in Snell Lex fr Ep col 406) The
feminine form Acasta (Ἀκάστη) is also attested the name of an Oceanid (Hes Theog 356)
Ἀκεσ(σ)αmicroενόςACESSAMENOSFather of Periboia 3 grandfather of Pelagon is mentioned only one time in Hom Il 21 143-144
Participial formation from the verb ἀκέοmicroαι cf the aorist ἠκεσάmicroην (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect 62 a b
p 164 cfr Iamenos Ialmenos Ormenos) it could mean he who is healed (less likely in the middle sense he who
has healed an illness Pape - Benseler s v heilbringer) According to Wathelet Dictionnaire des Troyens n 19 pp
250-251) it could be of non-Greek origin perhaps Macedonian connected with the city of Ἀκεσ(σ)αmicroεναί which
according to Steph Byz Ethn s v Ἀκεσαmicroεναί was founded precisely by our hero For the accentuation cf Schol
Hom ad loc ὀξυτονητέον τὸ Ἀκεσσαmicroενός ἵνα ὄνοmicroα γένηται as with Dexamenoacutes and Tisamenoacutes
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ἈχάτηςACHATES1 The name of a Trojan who accompanied Aeneas to Italy (Verg Aen 1120) 2 and of a Tyrrhenian companion of
Dionysus (Nonn Dion 13 309 37 350)
The name means agate (chalcedony quartz) and is probably a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v)
Category Names of heroes
ἈχέρωνACHERONCharacter who is supposed to have fathered Ascalaphos by a nymph of the underworld () by the name of Gorgyra
(Apollod 1 33 [= 1 5 3]) or elsewhere Orphne (Ovid Metam 5 539-541 in Greek there exists the adjective orphnoacutes
dark but not as a proper name so it is possible that it is an Ovidian invention) It is apparently the late creation of a
character to create an eponym for the name of the river even if the son that came to be attributed to him seems tied
to stories in the Demeter myth that look traditional enough The evidence (followed by Natalis Comes Mythologiae
III p 97) that makes him the son of Ceres and perhaps of a king of Sicily named Sicanus delivered by the goddess in
secret in a cave on Crete does not appear before Boccaccio Genealog deorum gentilium 3 4 1 who cites sources
that are highly dubious such as Theodontius and Pronapis and does not seem reliable
The Greek etymologies of the name of the river already known to Homer (Od 11 513 hapax it is identified with
many rivers the most famous of which still bears the name today and empties into the sea near Parga in Epeiros where
there also sat an oracle of the dead Νεκυοmicroαντεῖον cf Herodot 5 92 η) from ἀ- privative and χαίρειν because
those who go down there do not experience joy or elsewhere from ἄχεα ῥέων pouring forth sorrows (Etym M 180
46-57 s v) are evidently folk etymologies The same can be said for the meaning pale faded Bleichach (Pape and
Benseler GEW already in Plutarch de primo frig 948 E ἄχρωστος colorless) However even the comparisons with
Old Pers assaran or OCS jezero to reconstruct an ancient form ἀχεροντ- that would mean lake marsh (Chantraine
5
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
DELG s v) do not seem very convincing Less suspect might be its connection to the adjective ἀχερωίς river of white
poplar trees (Carnoy DEMGR s v) But the etymology remains uncertain
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ἈχιλλεύςACHILLESName of the son of Peleus and Thetis father of Pyrrhus Neoptolemus (Hom Il passim)
Already in Mycenaean in the form a-ki-re-u (KN Vc 106) The etymology is not clear but different hypotheses have been
made 1) According to Apollodorus (Bibl 3136 Schol ad Lycophr 178 etc) the hero was so named by Chiron his lips
had never tasted the milk of Thetis and so the name would be from ἀ- privative and χείλη lip 2) It could be a pre-
Hellenic name (Bosshardt Die Nomina auf -εύς par 444 and Nordheider in Snell Lex fr Ep col 1754) 3) It could be
from ἄχος pain through a form ἄχιλος as ὄργιλος derives from ὀργή (Kretschmer Glotta 4 1915 pp 305-308)
it could also be a hypochoristic of Ἀχι-λάος again from ἄχος but with λάος people (Palmer Interpretation p 79)
he whose people has pain Nagy (The Best of the Achaeans pp 69-71) agrees with this hypothesis considering such
a name to accord well with the heros fortunes Holland (Glotta 71 1993 pp 17-27) criticizes Nagys interpretation
on various grounds and prefers to take the first part of the name as a verb meaning frighten given the connection of
ἄχος with terms in other Indo-European languages meaning terror fear thus the name would mean he who frightens
the army 4) According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the figure is a water divinity his name deriving from Indo-European aqwa
through Pelasgic - a highly unlikely derivation
Category Names of heroes
ἈδάmicroαςADAMASTrojan warrior who participated in the assault on the Greeks wall at Troy while fighting alongside his father King
Asios 2 (hence the patronymic Ἀσιάδης) and a group of companions that included Iamenos an Orestes Thoon and
an Oinomaos (Hom Il 12 137-140) After his attempt to kill Antilochos unsuccessful thanks to the intervention of
Poseidon who rendered Adamas weapon harmless he was himself hit with a spear in the lower abdomen by the Cretan
Meriones ending his life (Hom Il 13 560-574) He was with other heroes searched for by Hector who learned of
his death from Paris (Hom Il 13 754-773)
A proper name derived from the common substantive ἀδάmicroας (Hes Theog 161 [Hes] Scut 137) steel it is a
compound of the privative prefix α- and of the root δάmicro- a participle in -ντ here in the passive sense The root is also
very productive in the active sense throughout Greek onomastics (cf Laodamas Iphidamas Chersidamas Eurydamas
Polydamas) It therefore means indomitable unbeatable (Wathelet Dictionnaire des Troyens n 9 pp 167-170) For
the meaning it is possible to compare Acamas indefatigable (Ἀκάmicroας from α- and κάmicroνω work hard suffer)
with whom Adamas is found with some frequency In its formation it is also related to compounds in -τλα (see Atlas
Von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 28 a 1 p 83 sect 63 a 1 p 166) Only in Latin is there also attested the
6
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
feminine form Adamanteia (non-existent in Greek) a reading that was found in the first editions of Hyg Fab 139 but
which should obviously be corrected to Amalthea
Category Names of heroes
ἈδαmicroάστωρADAMASTORA huge monster as big as the Colossus of Rhodes that appeared to Vasco de Gama and the Portuguese fleet near the
Cape of Good Hope foretelling disaster Probably invented by Camotildees Lusiacuteadas 5 st 41-51 on classical models He is
referred to as the companion of Enceladus Aegaeon and of the other Giants who fought against the gods Interrogated
by the leader of the expedition he tells of his own unhappy love for the wife of Peleus Thetis who tricked him with an
apparition of herself for which he was transformed into the rock of the Cape of Good Hope (Lus st 52-60) This figure
is almost totally unknown to Greek and Roman mythology which refers to a giant Damastor (Claudian Gigant 101-103)
while one Adamasthor is listed among the other giants only in Sidon Apollin Carm 1520 (sec V- inizi VI dev)
The name is a nomen agentis formed with the suffix -τωρ from the verbal adjective ἀδαmicroαστός which means
unconquerable unconquered used frequently of young women who have not had sexual relations with a man (from
ἀ- privativo e δαmicro- δάmicroνηmicroι δαmicroάω) It seems to be constructed by analogy with Alagravestor Phobegravetor and would mean
that is unconquerable implacable The adjective ἀδαmicroάστωρ (v l ἀδαmicroάτωρ) is also found in Pap Mag IV 2717
in the sense of virgin said of Hecate
Category Names of gods
Theme Transformation
ἌδmicroητοςADMETUSKing of Pherai in Thessaly son of Pheretes husband of Alcestis (Apollod Bibl 1 8 2 9 16) He participated in the
Calydonian Boar Hunt and in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 1 49-50)
This name is derived from the verbal adjective of δάmicroνηmicroι conquer with privative ἀ- and so means unconquered
There is attested also the feminine Admeta (Ἀδmicroήτη) an Argive priestess daughter of Eurystheus (Pausan 8 4 4)
ἌδωνιςADONISBorn of Myrrharsquos incestuous love for her father Cinyras king of Cyprus His mother was transformed into the tree that
bears her name and the extraordinarily beautiful baby was raised by Aphrodite and Persephone he was killed by a
boar spurred on against him by Artemis (Apollod Bibl 3 14 4) In a local version based in Syria the father had the
name Theias (Ant Lib Metam 34 5)
This name is certainly a Semitic loan-word in Hebrew there is the word adon master lord (Chantraine DELG
Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v p 23)
Theme Incest
7
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἌδραστοςADRASTOSName of the king of Argos that hosted Tydeus and Polyneices gave his daughters Argia and Deipyle to them as wives
and led them on the expedition against Thebes (Hom Il 2 572)
It could be that what we have is a verbal adjective of the verb δι-δράσκω flee with an ἀ privative- which would
mean he who does not try to flee (Chantraine DELG s v διδράσκω) if interpreted in the active sense or better
he to whom one cannot flee if it has a passive sense Wathelet (Dictionnaire des Troyens pp 170-171) however
maintains that it is difficult to justify the presence of σ since the root of δι-δράσκω is δρα- and not δρασ- it could
be foreign to Greek but it is a name firmly attested in Greece - see also the feminine Ἀδράστεια another name for
Nemesis (cf Aesch Prom 936) Perhaps then it is a pre-Hellenic name and the derivation from διδράσκω could be
owed to a folk etymology
Category Names of heroes
ἈγακλήςAGACLESFather of one of the Myrmidons who was king in the town of Budeion (perhaps in Thessaly or in Boeotia Eustath
Comm ad Il 16 570-574) he was succeeded by his son Epeigeus who went into exile for having killed a noble cousin
and was taken in as a guest by Peleus and Thetis in Phthia (Hom Il 16 570-571) but later perished at Troy at the
hands of Hector
A simple compound of the prefix ἀγα- and of κλέος it means extremely glorious of abundant glory cf Agathocles
Megacles Pericles
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαmicroήδηςAGAMEDESName of the architect the son of Stymphalos who with his sons Trophonios and Cercyon built many famous structures
in ancient Greece (Pausan 8 4 8 10 2)
The name is a compound of ἀγα- an intensive prefix and of the verb microήδοmicroαι to plan a project to have in mind and
means therefore one who thinks a lot Also attested in the feminine Agamede (Ἀγαmicroήδη in Hom Il 11 740-741)
daughter of Augeias and wife of Moulios a sorceress skilled in drugs and poisons
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαmicroέmicroνωνAGAMEMNONSon of Atreus brother of Menelaos husband of Clytaimnestra supreme commander of the Achaean army in the Trojan
War (Hom Il passim)
The name is a compound of ἀγα- an intensive prefix the second part of the compound presents some uncertainties It
has been hypothesized that it is based on -microέδmicroων a derivative of microέδοmicroαι to command (Carnoy DEMGR maintains
such a hypothesis) according to Kretschmer (Glotta 3 1912 p 330) this interpretation is not acceptable Hamp
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(Glotta 49 1971 pp 21-24) supports the hypothesis already asserted by Heubeck (Gedenkschrift Brandenstein pp
357-61) that it derives from Ἀγα-microέν-microων with metathesis of νmicro gt microν the name would then derive from microένω to
resist with an expressive form of reduplication and would mean one who resists with vigor Van der Valk (in Snell
Lex fr Ep col 34) on the basis of analogy interprets it as an extremely energetic man full of vigor
Category Names of heroes
ἈγανίππηAGANIPPE1 Daughter of Termessos god of the river that flows around Helicon (Pausan 9 29 5 2) and so a Naiad the eponym
of the spring that flows out near the grove of the Muses on Mt Helicon in Boeotia later identified with the fountain
Hippocrene perhaps made to flow by the hoof of the winged horse Pegasos (Verg Eclog 10 12 Ovid Metam 5
262-263 Pausan 9 31 3-4) 2 As an alternative to Eurydike 2 (Schol ad Apollon Rhod 4 1091) she would be the
wife of Acrisius the mother of Danae and grandmother of Perseus Hygin Fab 63 3 A daughter of Aigyptos sacrificed
on the altar of the apotropaic gods in the late account of Ps Plut de fluviis 16 1 4 There exists a late masculine
form Ἀγάνιππος Trojan warrior killed by Ajax along with many companions in a non-Homeric tradition (Quint Smyrn
Posthom 3 227-231)
A compound of the adjective ἀγανός sweet soft and ἵππος mare it could mean tame mare
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ἈγαπήνωρAGAPENORSon of Ankaios and Io leader of the Arcadian contingent who came to the Trojan War from Tegea (Hom Il 2 609 ss)
The name is a compound of the verb ἀγαπάω to love and ἀνήρ man it could mean one who loves men or one
who loves manly courage Cf other personal names such as Ἀντ- ήνωρ Βι- ήνωρ Ἐλεφ- ήνωρ Πεισ- ήνωρ where
the nominal part of the compound seems to be particularly ἀνήρ while for Ὑπερ- ήνωρ the predominant sense is
apparently that of ἠνορέη manly courage which is also found in numerous adjectival compounds
Category Names of heroes
ἈγασθένηςAGASTHENESSon of Augeias brother of Phyleus and father of Polyxeinos who was commander of ten of the 40 ships in the contingent
sent from Elis (Hom Il 2 615-624) and who also appears in the catalog of the suitors of Helen Polyxeinos would
return safe and sound from Troy and would father a son by the name of Amphimachos 3 (Pausan 5 3 4)
9
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
A name easily interpreted it is a compound of the intensive prefix ἀγα- and -σθένος strength very productive in
Greek personal names and so means endowed with great strength (von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 31 a
2 p 89) cf Demosthenes Eurysthenes Megasthenes etc
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάστροφοςAGASTROPHOSIn Homer a Trojan warrior the son of Paion killed by Diomedes by a blow of a spear to the buttocks while fighting
in the front lines on foot after having foolishly separated himself from his chariot and his charioteer (Hom Il 11
338-342 368 Diomedes was struck on the foot by a arrow while trying to strip him of his armor 11 373 cfr Scholia
ad l Eustath 320712 ad l Etym Gudianum 235 15 s v Ἠγαθέη in a compound with ἀγα-)
Wathelet (Dictionnaire des Troyens n 5 pp 148-149) attempts to link this personal name and the military event in
which he is involved ineffectually It may mean des sehr Wendige that is very nimble in movement (von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 22 a 1 p 71) cfr Epistrophos impetuous in attack) so one who turns aggressively
against the enemy from the prefix ἀγα- active in many compounds and the verb στρέφω rotate turn spin
around Less probable (but possible) is he who knows how to turn a chariot in excellent fashion
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάθωνAGATHONSon of Priam cited only once in the last book of Hom Il 24 with the epithet δῖος ldquoillustriousrdquo with eight of his
brothers and half-brothers he was reproached by his elderly father who impatiently waited to have his chariot prepared
so that he could go to reclaim the body of Hector
A simple formation with the suffix -ων from the adjective ἀγαθός goodly capable with recessive accent
Mycenaean recognizes a genitive a-ka-ta-jo-jo (PY En 659) which can be rendered as Ἀγαθαῖος (but also as Ἀκταῖος)
It does not seem necessary to consider it a hypocorism for Agathocles or Agathodoros (Wathelet Dictionnaire des
Troyens I p 147) the name is in any case very common in Greek and it is one of the many examples of entirely
Greek personal names in the Trojan camp
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαυήAGAVEDaughter of Kadmos and of Harmonia mother of Pentheus (Hes Theog 975 ss Eurip Bacch passim) sister of Semele
Ino and Autonoe Another Agave less well-known appears among the Nereids (Hom Il 18 42)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from ἀγαυός admirable noble illustrious an adjective related to the verb ἄγαmicroαι to admire
marvel at (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγαυός)
ἈγέλαοςAGELAOSA rather popular name in Homer we find 1 a Greek officer who was killed along with eight other commanders
(ἡγεmicroόνες) by Hektor in Hom Il 11 301-304 2 a Trojan warrior son of Phradmon the first to have been killed by
Diomedes who after having crossed the ditch with his horses stabbed him with a javelin between his shoulders forcing
it through his chest and making him fall from his chariot in his armor (Hom Il 8 253-260) 3 a slave of Priam who was
charged by the king with exposing Paris on mount Ida but shortly afterwards he was moved by pity and raised the baby
as his own Apollod Bibl 3 12 5 (149-150) 4 one of the suitors of Penelope son of Damastor who tried to convince
Telemachos to agree to allow him to marry his mother (Hom Od 20 321 ss) He urged on Melanthius and other to exit
the hall and raise the alarm during the slaughter of the suitors (Od 22 131 136 212) and was killed by Odysseus with
a spear-blow (Od 22 292-293) 5 son of Herakles and of Omphale ancestor of the kings of Lydia Apollod Bibl 2 7
8 (165) 6 son of Oineus king of Calydon and brother of Meleagros Antonin Lib Metam 2
A compound of the verb ἄγω ldquoto guide leadrdquo and of the substantive λαός ldquopeople in armsrdquo analogous to Agenor
it is perhaps already attested in the Mycenaean a-ke-ra-wo KN Vc 316 (also read Ἀρχέλαος) where there exists also
the nomen agentis ra-wa-ke-ta (PY Un 718 9 etc) usually interpreted as λαϜ-αγέτας ldquoleader of armed troopsrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈγήνωρAGENOR1 Son of Poseidon and Libya and father of Europa Kadmos Phoinix and Cilix (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4 3 1) and
descendant of Argive Io 2 Among other characters with this name there is a Trojan hero son of Antenor frequently
mentioned in the Iliad (21 544-599 e passim)
The name means ldquohe who leads the men valiantrdquo as it is a compound of ἄγω ldquoto leadrdquo and of ἀνήρ man By
contrast Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 32) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 99) maintain that
the first part of the name is the intensive prefix ἀγα- and that the name means ldquoextremely manly courageousrdquo The
first interpretation seems preferable by far because compounds in ἀγα- are most often formed from verbs (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens de lIliade p 154)
Category Names of heroes
ἈγλαίαAGLAIAName of one of the Graces or Charites (Hes Theog 69 907 ss)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It is derived from the adjective ἀγλαός illustrious shining and means she who displays radiance beauty
Category Names of gods
ἌγριοςAGRIOS1 A giant who was killed along with Thoas by the Moirai in the Gigantomachy when these two sons of Gaia fought
against the gods (Apollod Bibl 1 6 2) 2 Son of Portheus and brother of Oineus (king of Calydon in Aitolia grandfather
of Diomedes) and of Melas with whom he lived in Pleuron (Hom Il 14 116-118) He had six children including
Thersites who deposed Oineus in favor of their own father before departing for the Trojan War (Apollod Bibl 1 8 68)
According to Hyginus after the fall of the city Diomedes learned that his grandfather had been deposed and ousted
Agrios who committed suicide because of it (Hygin Fab 175 242 and Antonin Lib Metam 37 1) 3 Centaur that
Heracles drove off by throwing red-hot coals at him when he drawn by the smell of wine rushed to the wine-jar of
Pholos which had been opened during the heros fourth labor when he was passing through Arcadia (Apollod Bibl 2 5
4) 4 Brother of Oreios he was a Thracian giant born of Polyphonte and a bear he and his brother would haul strangers
off and devour them He was transformed by the gods into a vulture to punish him for his cruel bestiality (Antonin Lib
Metam 21) 5 Son of Circe and Odysseus brother of Latinos and of Telegonos (Hes Theog 1011-1014)
Derived directly from the adjective ἄγριος uncultivated or not domesticated even savage violent Von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 4 b 1 p 14 compares it to the compound Μελέαγρος not coincidentally his nephew
Since the countryside as an uncultivated area is normally fitting for activity connected to hunting one could easily
explain that the term ἄγριος could mean either ldquohe who nurtures the landrdquo (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγρός) or ldquohe
who hunts in an uncultivated areardquo
Category Names of heroes
ἌγρωνAGRONName of an inhabitant of the island of Cos who along with his sisters Byssa and Meropis worshiped only the Earth and
insulted the other gods who in revenge transformed him into a plover (Anton Lib Met 15 from Boios Ornithogonia)
It possibly derives from ἀγρός field land and means something like lover of fields man of the country
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Transformation
ΑἴαςAIAS (AJAX)Name of two Homeric heroes 1 the son of Oileus of Locris (Hom Il 13 46 23 754) 2 the son of Telamon king
of Salamis (Hom Il 2 553 7 183) he killed himself by falling on his sword cf Sophocles tragedy Aias which is
dedicated to him
Various theories have been proposed as to how to interpret this name 1) already in antiquity it was connected to
αἰετός eagle (Hes Fr 250 = Schol ad Pind Isth 6 53 Apollod Bibl 3 12 7) a complete invention 2) it could be
related to αἶα land (Chantraine DELG von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 168 Van der Valk in Snell Lex
12
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
fr Ep col 232) and would mean man of the earth or the descendant of Aia 3) already attested in Mycenaean ai-
wa (Kn Np 973) perhaps as a bovine name it could be interpreted as a hypocorism of Αἴολος alive from the Indo-
European aiu+unt- he who has dynamic strength vigorous (Muumlhlestein Studi Micenei 2 1967 pp 41-52 Carnoy
DEMGR and von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 368)
Category Names of heroes
ἈλέκτωρALEKTORName of different figures including 1) the son of Anaxagoras (Apollod Bibl 3 6 2) 2) the son of Epeios (Diod Sic
4 69) 3) the son of Argeios grandson of Pelops he is the father of Iphiloche or Echemela (Schol ad Hom Od 4 10)
whom Menelaos gave in matrimony to Megapenthes 4) the father of the Argonaut Leitos (Apollod Bibl 1 9 16)
Already attested in Mycenaean a-re-ko-to-re (KN Ce 1521) it is a nomen agentis in -τωρ from the verb ἀλέκω ldquoto
defend repelrdquo and thus means ldquothe defenderrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈλεκτρύωνALEKTRYONName of the sentry assigned by Ares to inform him about the approach of day while the god was occupied in his affair
with Aphrodite (Eustath ad Hom 1598 61) it is obviously an allusion to the cock-crow
It is attested in Mycenaean in the form A-re-ku-tu-ru-wo (PY An 6548) It means ldquoroosterrdquo and is formed from ἀλέκτωρ
ldquodefenderrdquo since it refers to a combative animal (Chantraine DELG s v ἀλέξω) Ruijgh (Minos 9 1968 p 153)
prefers to interpret it instead as a derivative of ἄλεκτρον a defensive implement
ἈλήτηςALETESSon of Hippotes descendant of Herakles born during the return of the Herakleidai (Pausan 2 4 4 5 18 8)
It means wanderer vagabond and is the nomen agentis of the verb ἀλάοmicroαι to wander (Chantraine DELG s v
ἀλάοmicroαι)
Category Names of heroes
ἈφροδίτηAPHRODITEGoddess of love (Hom Il 5 820 and passim Hymn Hom ad Ven Hes Theog 190 ff) born of the foam of the sea
and the genitals of Ouranos or according to another tradition of Zeus and Dione
She is a goddess of Near Eastern origin and later there arises a folk etymology that interprets the name as coming from
ἀφρός foam (Plat Crat 406 c) οὕνεκ ἐν ἀφρῷ θρέφθη (Hes Theog 197-198) The theory of Grimme (Glotta 14
1925 p 18) who proposes an association with the Semitic goddess of fertility Astoret has not been proven nor has
that of Hammarstroumlm (Glotta 11 1921 pp 214 ff) who compares this name with the pre-Indo-European πρύτανις
13
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Etruscan (e)pr ni this latter hypothesis is also maintained by Carnoy (DEMGR) but with the help of Pelasgian phonology
according to which p would become ph
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ἈθήνηATHENAA goddess daughter of Zeus and Metis born from the head of the god (Hes Theog 886 ss)
This name is already attested in Mycenaean in the form of a-ta-na-po-ti-ni-ja (KN V 521 52 bis) and is difficult to
explain Carnoy (DEMGR) supports the Pelasgic hypothesis of Van Windekens (Le Peacutelasgique pp 40-41) according to
whom the initial Ath- is a Pelasgic form of the Indo-European at-no Sanskrit atta mother with the change t gt th
but Athena does not have maternal characteristics in the historical period It is possible that it is a pre-Hellenic name
(cfr van der Valk in Snell Lex fr Ep col 208)
Category Names of gods
ΒαῖοςBAIOS or BAEUSHelmsman of Odysseus whose name was supposedly given to various places for instance a mountain on the island of
Cephalonia and the town of Baia in Campania (Strab 1 p 26 5 p 245 Lycophr Alex 694) The name only occurs in
the post-classical period and does not appear in the Homeric poems
The name apparently derives from βαιός short unimportant with the recessive accent often found with
anthroponyms
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΒαλίοςBALIOS or BALIUSOne of the two immortal horses of Achilles (Xanthus) son of Zephyrus and the Harpy Podarge who was given to Peleus
by Poseidon perhaps on the occasion of Peleusrsquo wedding to Thetis The third horse of Achilles team was Pedasus who
was killed in battle 2 The horse of Celmis (or Schelmis) beaten in a race by the mare of Erechtheus named Podarce
(Nonn Dionys 37 334-337) 3 One of the dogs of Actaeon in Apollod Bibl 33 4 4
With a recessive accent Baliacuteos is simply derived from βαλιός speckled spotted
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασίλειαBASILEIAEldest daughter of Uranus and Titaia who distinguished herself from her sisters through her wisdom and intelligence she
married her brother Hyperion and gave birth to Selene and Helios (Diod Sic 3 57 who reports a non-Greek tradition)
14
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means queen ending in the suffix -y - Its origin is probably as a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v
βασιλεύς) from Mycenean qa-si-re-u
Category Names of gods
ΒασιλίσκοςBASILISKA serpent of small size no more than twelve inches long (about a handrsquos length) marked by a white spot on the head
is also distinguished from other snakes by traveling upright rather than slithering (erectus in medio incedens Plin
Nat Hist 8 33 78 Aelian Hist anim 2 5)One is tempted to identify it with the cobra Lucan (Bell Civ 724-26)
mentioned its death-bringing hiss including it in his comprehensive catalogue of snakes to which Dante alludes in the
Circle of Hell dedicated to thieves (Inf 24 85 ff) Not only its touch but its breath is destructive wherever it appears
(exurit herbas rumpit saxa) Its venom can pass through objects if it is true that one time as Pliny says a rider and
his horse were destroyed by poison traveling up the long spear used for killing the serpent cf also Aelian Nat anim 2
5 The power of its gaze is terrible anyone who meets it dies The only way to look upon it is ithrough the reflection of
a mirror just as Perseus had done with Medusa from whose blood all the reptiles of Libya arose (Lucan Bell Civ 696
ff) Alexander the Great during his campaign in India to defeat the horrible creature (cf Leo Neapol Hist de prelis
Alex Magni rec I 3 p 320 sec X) used the stratagem of putting mirrors on the shields of his soldiers The basiliskrsquos
mortal enemies are the weasel and the cock the first kills him with its own smell (Plin Nat hist 8 33 79) the
second protected travelers who passed through Libya (Aelian Nat anim 3 31) In Late Antique and Medieval bestiaries
its nature is linked to that of its enemy the cock it too can go on all fours or can assume plumage while keeping a
reptilian tail thus arose the basilgallo (basilicock in Chaucer) In the Middle Ages it had a negative connotation at
times relating it to the Devil (or Antichrist) to the sinner or heresy To St Antony of Padua (Sermoni) it represented
wrath Cecco dAscoli who was burned at the stake in 1327 on the charge of sorcery records that the basilisk is the
Lord of serpents (Acerba 30) The preconception has biblical roots Isaiah (59 5) mentions a poisonous reptile the
Hebrew tsepha that in the translation of the Septuagint became βασιλίσκος and in the Vulgate basiliscus It likewise
occurs in Jeremiah 8 17 and in Psalms 91 13 Modern translations more cautiously prefers asp viper serpent
The etymology is simple βασιλίσκος diminutive of βασιλεύς (a word already attested in Mycenaean qa-si-re-u)
means little king lat basiliscus and regulus designating the king of the serpents due to its terrible powers in
spite of its small size
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασσάραBASSARAName of a Thracian Bacchant (Athen 5 7 p 198)
15
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means fox but also suggests the clothing of the Thracian bacchants which were made from fox pelts it
is a term derived from a loan word perhaps linked to the cult of Dionysus (Chantraine DELG s v) cf the verb ἀνα-
βασσαρέω Anacr fr 11 6 (356) PMG to revel Braccini T Glotta 86 2010 pp 7-21
ΒάτωνBATONA Theban the relative and charioteer of Amphiaraus He was swallowed up along with him into a chasm that opened
in the earth in front of Thebes (Pausan 2 23 2 5 17 8 10 10 3)
The name may come from βάτος bramble and may mean bramble or one who inhabits the bramble
Category Names of heroes
ΒάττοςBATTUSThe name of an old man transformed into a rock by Hermes because he did not keep secret the theft of Apollos cattle
(Anton Lib Met 23) A more widely known character with this name is the founder of Cyrene the son of Polymnestus
and Phronima (Herodot 4 145 ff Callim Hymn 2 65 Pausan 3 14 3 10 15 6-7)
The name belongs to the family of the verb βατταρίζω to stutter and means the stutterer they are onomatopoetic
terms According to Herodotus (4 145 ff) it could signify king in Libyan Masson (Glotta 54 1976 pp 84-98) favors
the first interpretation since the words of Herodotus are general and we lack information on South-Eastern Libyan
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΒαυβώBAUBOEleusinian wife of Dysaules received Demeter into her home and tried to cheer her up by lifting her dress and exposing
herself to Demeter (Clem Alex Protr 2 21)
The name is derived from the colloquial verb βαυβάω to sleep but also took on the meaning of female sex A less
acceptable suggestion of Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 73) is a derivation from βαΰζω to murmur or from
πραΰνω to soothe which according to him are applicable to a governess
Category Female names
ΒαῦκιςBAUCISA Phrygian woman who together with her husband Philemon welcomed Zeus and Hermes they sent a flood upon all
the other villagers who had not welcomed them but transformed these two into trees and their hut into a temple
(Ovid Met 8 616-715)
16
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from βαυκός soft tender a folk word of uncertain etymology (Chantraine DELG) Room (Rooms
Classical Dictionary p 73) believes that it may have the same source as Baubo and in particular may be explained in
connection with πραΰνω to calm but such hypotheses are groundless
Category Female names
Theme Transformation
ΒελλεροφόντηςBELLEROPHONSon of Poseidon and the daughter of the king of Megara Iobates after he received a request from Proteus to kill the
hero commanded Bellerophon to slay the Chimera believing that this could not be done then sent him against the
Solymi the Amazons and Lydians until he recognized his divine nature (Hom Il 6 155-205 216-26)
Already in antiquity the name was interpreted as slayer of Belleros from the verb θείνω to slay that often appears
in the second part of compounds in the form -φόντης According to Kretschmer (Glotta 24 1936 pp 237-38 e 273
31 1951 pp 92 ff) this is an acceptable interpretation considering that Belleros is the name of a local demon On the
other hand Malten (Hermes 79 1944 pp 10 ff) views as a conjecture derived from popular imagination According
to Chantraine (DELG) supported also by Carnoy (DEMGR) Heubecks suggestion (Beitr Namenf 5 1954 pp 25-28)
that the name means full of strength being a compound of an Indo-European derivative bel- strength and ghwen
to swell up with cannot be proven
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΒῆλοςBELOSThe name of one of the two twin sons of the nymph Libya and Poseidon (the other was called Agenor) grandsons of
Epaphus (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4)
The name derives from the Semitic name of the god Baal Bel (Bernhard in Roscher Myth Lex I col 778)
Category Names of heroes
ΒιάνωρBIANORSon of the Tiber and the nymph Manto he founded the city of Mantua (Serv ad Verg Ecl 9 60)
This name is a compound of βιάω to tame to defeat and of ἀνήρ man and thus means he who forcefully tames
heroes Alternatively Pape- Benseler (WGE) translate it as a hard cruel violent man
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
17
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΒιήνωρBIENORTrojan captain with a Greek name called ποιmicroὴν λαῶν shepherd of people mentioned only once in Hom Il 11
92-93 when he was killed and stripped of his arms by Agamemnon together with his companion in arms and charioteer
Oileus
With the verbal sense of βια- it means ldquohe who with force dominates the enemy herordquo cf Bianor (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens I p 372-374) Elephenor Elpenor
Category Names of heroes
ΒορέαςBOREASGod of the North Wind the son of Eos and Astraeus brother of Zephyrus and Notus (Hes Theog 378)
One theory is that it means wind from the mountain related to Sanskrit giriacute- Avestan gairi- and ancient Slavic gora
mountain (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of gods
ΒῶροςBOROSBORUS1 Mentioned in Homer as the father of Phaestus Hom Il 5 44 he lived in Tarne Maeonia in the region of Smyrna
2 Another Borus in Homer (Il 16 177-178) son of Perieres was married to Polydora in Phthia Thessaly Polydora the
daughter of Peleus and Antigone 2 (Apollod Bibl 3 13 1) had a son Menesthius actually fathered by the river god
Spercheus (Il 16 173-176) 3 Son of Penthilus a descendant of Nestor grandson of Periclymenus had a son named
Andropompus who was the father of Melanthus who was expelled by the Hereclidae (Pausan 2 18 8)
The name probably is not Greek hence it is pointless to search for an explanation (as Pape-Benseler have done s v) by
resorting to the Hesychian gloss Βωροί ὀφθαλmicroοί eyes (Frisk GEW s v) Possibly related to the Βωρεῖς the name
of a tribe in Cyzicus (von Kamptz Homerische Personenn sect 81 pp 322)
Category Names of heroes
ΒουφάγοςBOUPHAGUSArcadian hero son of Iapetos and of Thornax killed by Artemis while chasing her on Mt Pholoe (Pausan 8 14 9 27 17)
18
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of βοῦς ldquooxrdquo and the aorist φαγεῖν of the verb ἐσθίω ldquoto eatrdquo it therefore means ldquoeater
of oxenrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ΒούτηςBOUTESBUTESName of various people including 1 A son of Boreas father of Hippodamia (Diod Sic 4 70) who tried to kill his
half-brother Licurgus and once discovered fled from Thessaly to Naxos where he became a pirate (Diod Sic 5 50)
2 Another was the son of the king of Athens Pandion and Zeuxippe (Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) brother of Procne and
Philomela founder of the hereditary priesthood of the Athenian Eteobutadai 3 A third son of Teleon participated
in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 4 912-19) He was the only one who threw himself into the sea
after he heard the song of the Sirens overwhelmed by the song of Orpheus He was saved by Aphrodite and afterwards
founded the colony of Lilybaeum near Eryx on Sicily
Derived from βούς cow and simply means cowherd
Category Names of heroes
ΒουζύγηςBOUZYGESA mythical character to whom the invention of the yoke is attributed (Serv ad Verg Georg 1 19 Hesych s v)
The name is a simple compound of βούς cow and the verb ζεύγνυmicroι to join and therefore means yoker of cows
Category Names of heroes
ΒράγχοςBRANCHUSSon of Smycrus a hero orginally from Delphi but who settled in Miletus before his birth his mother had a vision of the
sun descending into her mouth passing through her body and out of her vulva He was beloved by Apollo who gave
him the gift of prophecy (Conon Narr 33)
The name derives from the adjective βραγχός hoarse a technical term whose etymology is not clear one could
perhaps compare old Irish brong(a)ide hoarseness (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ΒρέmicroουσαBREMUSAAccording to a late poem (IV cent CE) she is one of the 12 Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy Quint
Smyrn Posthom 1 43 she is killed by Idomeneus with a stroke of his spear to her right breast
19
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
20
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
21
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
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Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
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The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
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It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
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Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
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Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
33
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
34
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
35
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
37
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
38
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
After 20 years of work the great digital and multilingual Etymological Dictionary of GreekMythology (Dizionario Etimologico della Mitologia Greca multilingue On Line (DEMGOL) is now(2013) operational It will be of great benefit to Schools and Universities that count humanitiesamong their program of studies and where approaching a knowledge which is the basis ofEuropean and more widely Western culturesrsquo development is deemed useful
The DEMGOL which has been translated almost entirely from Italian to Spanish and Portugueseand partially to French and Catalan provides teachers and students with immediate informationabout mythical names (especially of minor characters) with selected sources checked first-handand available in the most reliable and recent editions We hope to move forward with the Britishtranslation as only few items are now available in English These details are supplied with aninstantaneous effectiveness that is seriously lacking while consulting traditional printed volumesAbove all DEMGOL provides a reliable etymology of these names along with a brief discussionon any other interpretations that - according to the analysis and examination of the researchof ancient and modern linguists - appear to be refused When necessary names and terms ofmycenaean origin are carefully indicated A precise etymological index of ldquoNomina Homericardquo isabout to be completed as a special section of the Dictionary
We must not overlook the images (and links) apparatus whose enlargement is in progress Thisdoes not claim to document the immense amount of ancient iconic representations of Greek myth(for which there are already huge iconographic Lexicons usually very expensive) but seeks tohighlight the survival and effectiveness of ldquomythicalrdquo models in the arts and in modern cultureincluding mass-media from the Renaissance to present day and future
Our most important achievement is the preparation of all the resources in digital formats thatwill be available as PDF and E-PUB This will enable international users from Brazil to Francefrom Argentina to Italy from Mexico to Angola to consult DEMGOL by any Internet device such asNetbooks Tablets Smartphones and of course standard PCs and Macs
The work began in 1992 with Carla Zufferlirsquos PhD thesis and is now carried out under the directionof Ezio Pellizer with the past and present collaboration of many GRIMM members FrancescaMarzari Luisa Benincampi Stefano Di Brazzano Alberto Cecon Alberto Pavan Ilaria Sforza IngridLeschiutta Francesca Marzari and Franccediloise Leacutetoublon (HOMERICA group Grenoble) worked atthe French translation the Spanish translation was carried out by Aacutelvaro Ibaacutentildeez (Granada) andJoseacute Antonio Cluacutea Serena (Barcelona) and is currently mainly performed by Diana De Paco Serrano(Murcia) In Brazil Matheus Trevizam Tereza Virgiacutenia Manuela Ribeiro Barbosa and AntonioOrlando Dourado Lopes are very active The Catalan translation progresses especially thanks toVicky Alsina Daniel Ramon Xavier Riu e Nereida Villagra
1
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἈβαρβαρέηABARBAREAA naiad gave birth by the Trojan Bucolion to the twins Aesepus and Pedasus 2 (Hom Il 6 21-22 27-28) who were
killed in battle by Euryalus 1 In late sources she taught the art of healing wounds and other maladies to another of
her sons Euphorbus (Orph Lith 461-464)
Formation with expressive reduplication and a perhaps intensifying ἀ- of uncertain meaning who expresses themself
with confused language who babbles much () The etymology from ἀ- privative and βόρβορος mud suggested in
Pape-Benseler - in which case the name would mean lacking mud that is pure (fitting for a water nymph) - seems
unlikely likewise the etymology from ἀ- copulative the muddy one (Reichelt Zeitschr vergl Sprachforsch 43
1910 pp 96-97) which Mette (in Snell Lex fr Ep s v) rightly considers very uncertain The suggestion of Schol ad
Il 622 b deriving the name from an obscure ἀβέρβελλον abundant and confused does not seem very convincing
Category Female names
ἌβαςABAS1 Trojan warrior son of Eurydamas 2 killed by Diomedes (Hom Il 5 148) in other traditions he is the son of Poseidon
and the nymph Arethusa 2 More famously the ancient king of Argos son of Lynceus and Hypermnestra inventor of
the shield father of the twins Acrisius and Proetus (Apollod Bibl 2 2 1 Serv ad Aen 3 286) 3 A third Abas great-
grandchild of the preceding is son of the seer Melampus (Apollod Bibl 1 9 13)
The etymology is uncertain and like not of Greek formation as the suffix -nt- seems to show the sense of giant
proposed by Pape and Benseler with some doubt does not seem well grounded
Category Names of heroes
ἌβδηροςABDERUSSon of Hermes or of Poseidon and the nymph Thronia (Pind Paean 2 1-2 104-106) of Locrian origin erogravemenos of
Heracles whom he accompanied in search for the man-eating horses of Diomedes by which he was devoured (Apollod
Bibl 2 5 8) The hero founded near his tomb the city of Abdera on the coast of Thrace cf Hellan Lesb Fr 105
Fowler (= Steph Byz s v Ἄβδηρα) at the outlets of the river Nestos According to Philostratus who describes a
painting depicting in a lively fashion the achievements of A Imag 2 25 Heracles founded not only the city but also
established annual games including competitions in all sports except horse racing for understandable reasons
A connection with δῆρις fight (Rooms Classical Dictionary) - thus understanding the name to mean son of the battle
- does not seem likely It is perhaps connected to the Hesychian gloss ἄβδης microάστιξ (in Hipponax) in which case the
name would mean the man with the whip it could also be of non-Greek formation
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἈβίαABIAThe elderly nurse of Glenos the son of Heracles after the defeat of the Dorians led by the Heraclid Hyllus at the hands
of the Achaeans she retreated into Messenia to the city of Ira (perhaps one of the cities promised by Agamemnon to
Achilles) which the Heraclid Cresphontes renamed Abia after her (Pausan 4 30 1)
It does not seem that this name is related to the legendary people the Abioi (q v) It may nevertheless mean belonging
to the people of the Abioi
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ἌβιοιABIIA legendary people named at Homer Il 13 6 after the Hippemolgoi the Thracians and Mysians whom he gives the
epithet the most just of all men Zeus directed his gaze toward these peoples when he turned away from the events of
Troy They were identified by the ancients with the nomadic Scythians from whom even the wise Anacharsis may have
descended (Schol Hom Il ad loc) Elsewhere they are identified with the Thracian peoples perhaps to be equated
with the people that Aeschylus calls the Gabii in a fragment from Prom lib cited at Steph Byz s v (Aesch Fr 196
N = 329 M) Strabo drawing from Posidonius discusses these peoples at great length at 7 3 2-4
All of the various etymologies proposed by the ancients seem hypothetical running from long-lived (βίος) to experts
with the bow (βιός bow) or otherwise those who do not use bows in the last case the ἀ is interpreted as privative
and not epitactic (ie intensive) Alternatively it came to be interpreted as non-violent ἀ- βιαίοι (Schol ad Il 13
6 Etymol Magn s v)
Category Names of populations
ἌβληροςABLEROSTrojan warrior killed with a spear by Antilochos son of Nestor during a fierce battle fought between the Xanthos and
Simois rivers (Hom Il 6 32-33) There is no other notice of him
The scholion ad loc supposes an ἀ- that is perhaps privative and an unattested βλῶ βλήσω adj βληρός that is
difficult to interpret even the gloss in Hesychius ἀβληράmiddot ἡνία reins does not help much and still less recourse
to βλῆρ decoy trap snare (Wathelet Dictionn des Troyennes p 144 is also skeptical) Thus the personal name
remains unexplained
Category Names of heroes
ἈκακαλλίςACACALLISThis was the name of one of the daughters of Minos loved by Hermes and by Apollo who was the mother of Miletus
(Nicandr ap Anton Lib Metam 30 1) the young man with whom Minos fell madly in love Others say that she gave
3
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
birth by Hermes to Cydon (Pausan 8 53 4) or always by Apollo to the Cretan twins Phylakides and Philander who
were nursed by a she-goat (Pausan 10 16 5)
The name refers to the tamarisk according to Dioscor 1 89 or the narcissus cf Hesych s v and is probably of
Egyptian origin (Chantraine DELG)
Theme Transformation
ἈκαλανθίςACALANTISDaughter of King Pierus of Macedonia With her eight sisters she dared compete with the Muses in song and for this
they were transformed into birds Acalantis become a goldfinch (Anton Lib Metam 9)
The name means precisely goldfinch (DArcy Thompson A Glossary of Greek Birds pp 30 ss) and derives from
ἄκανθα which refers to various spiny plants like the thistle with metathesis from ἀκανθαλίς
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Transformation
ἈκάmicroαςACAMAS1 Thracian leader counted among the bravest an ally of the Trojans and co-commander with Peiroos (Hom Il 2
844-845 5 462-469) He was son of Eussoros and was killed by Ajax with a blow from his spear through the forehead
(Hom Il 6 7-10) 2 Son of Antenor and brother of Archelochos (Hom Il 2 822-823 11 60) he together with his
brother and Aeneias led the fourth contingent of Trojan soldiers (Hom Il 12 98-100) He prevailed in a confrontation
with Promachos avenging his brothers death and after warding off the attack of Peneleos (Hom Il 14 476-489)
died when he was shot in his right shoulder by Meriones while getting back into his chariot (Hom Il 16 342-344) 3
Son of Theseus and of Phaidra brother of Demophon (Diod Bibl 4 62) he became the object of Laodices desire and
had a son by her Munitos (Parth Narr amat 16) who was raised by Aithra during his return from Troy he landed in
Thrace where Phyllis too fell in love with him (Apollod Epit 6 16) on Cyprus he founded a colony and died when
he fell off a horse onto his sword (Tzetz ad Lycophr 494)
A Greek name it is an alpha-privative compound that is precisely the same form as the adjective ἀκάmicroας with a
privative prefix ἀ- and root καmicroα- to be derived from κάmicroνω work hard suffer intended here in the passive sense it
means the indefatigable For a similar formation cf Adamas Wathelet Dictionnaire des Troyens n 17 pp 242-249
von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 63 a p 166 Room Roomrsquos Classical Dictionary s v p 20)
Category Names of heroes
ἌκαστοςACASTUSSon of the king of Iolchus Pelias and of Anaxibia participated in the expedition of the Argonauts and in the hunt for
the boar of Calydon (Apollod Bibl 1910 916 927 3133 137-8)
It could be a compound of the verb κέκασmicroαι to excel shine and of ἀ- privative it would therefore mean he
who does not shine rightly Carnoy (DEMGR) points out that such a name would not be very fitting for a hero for
4
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
which reason it is better to take the ἀ- as an intensifier and to understand the name as he who shines much the
splendid (cf anche von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 151 and Scholz in Snell Lex fr Ep col 406) The
feminine form Acasta (Ἀκάστη) is also attested the name of an Oceanid (Hes Theog 356)
Ἀκεσ(σ)αmicroενόςACESSAMENOSFather of Periboia 3 grandfather of Pelagon is mentioned only one time in Hom Il 21 143-144
Participial formation from the verb ἀκέοmicroαι cf the aorist ἠκεσάmicroην (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect 62 a b
p 164 cfr Iamenos Ialmenos Ormenos) it could mean he who is healed (less likely in the middle sense he who
has healed an illness Pape - Benseler s v heilbringer) According to Wathelet Dictionnaire des Troyens n 19 pp
250-251) it could be of non-Greek origin perhaps Macedonian connected with the city of Ἀκεσ(σ)αmicroεναί which
according to Steph Byz Ethn s v Ἀκεσαmicroεναί was founded precisely by our hero For the accentuation cf Schol
Hom ad loc ὀξυτονητέον τὸ Ἀκεσσαmicroενός ἵνα ὄνοmicroα γένηται as with Dexamenoacutes and Tisamenoacutes
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ἈχάτηςACHATES1 The name of a Trojan who accompanied Aeneas to Italy (Verg Aen 1120) 2 and of a Tyrrhenian companion of
Dionysus (Nonn Dion 13 309 37 350)
The name means agate (chalcedony quartz) and is probably a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v)
Category Names of heroes
ἈχέρωνACHERONCharacter who is supposed to have fathered Ascalaphos by a nymph of the underworld () by the name of Gorgyra
(Apollod 1 33 [= 1 5 3]) or elsewhere Orphne (Ovid Metam 5 539-541 in Greek there exists the adjective orphnoacutes
dark but not as a proper name so it is possible that it is an Ovidian invention) It is apparently the late creation of a
character to create an eponym for the name of the river even if the son that came to be attributed to him seems tied
to stories in the Demeter myth that look traditional enough The evidence (followed by Natalis Comes Mythologiae
III p 97) that makes him the son of Ceres and perhaps of a king of Sicily named Sicanus delivered by the goddess in
secret in a cave on Crete does not appear before Boccaccio Genealog deorum gentilium 3 4 1 who cites sources
that are highly dubious such as Theodontius and Pronapis and does not seem reliable
The Greek etymologies of the name of the river already known to Homer (Od 11 513 hapax it is identified with
many rivers the most famous of which still bears the name today and empties into the sea near Parga in Epeiros where
there also sat an oracle of the dead Νεκυοmicroαντεῖον cf Herodot 5 92 η) from ἀ- privative and χαίρειν because
those who go down there do not experience joy or elsewhere from ἄχεα ῥέων pouring forth sorrows (Etym M 180
46-57 s v) are evidently folk etymologies The same can be said for the meaning pale faded Bleichach (Pape and
Benseler GEW already in Plutarch de primo frig 948 E ἄχρωστος colorless) However even the comparisons with
Old Pers assaran or OCS jezero to reconstruct an ancient form ἀχεροντ- that would mean lake marsh (Chantraine
5
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
DELG s v) do not seem very convincing Less suspect might be its connection to the adjective ἀχερωίς river of white
poplar trees (Carnoy DEMGR s v) But the etymology remains uncertain
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ἈχιλλεύςACHILLESName of the son of Peleus and Thetis father of Pyrrhus Neoptolemus (Hom Il passim)
Already in Mycenaean in the form a-ki-re-u (KN Vc 106) The etymology is not clear but different hypotheses have been
made 1) According to Apollodorus (Bibl 3136 Schol ad Lycophr 178 etc) the hero was so named by Chiron his lips
had never tasted the milk of Thetis and so the name would be from ἀ- privative and χείλη lip 2) It could be a pre-
Hellenic name (Bosshardt Die Nomina auf -εύς par 444 and Nordheider in Snell Lex fr Ep col 1754) 3) It could be
from ἄχος pain through a form ἄχιλος as ὄργιλος derives from ὀργή (Kretschmer Glotta 4 1915 pp 305-308)
it could also be a hypochoristic of Ἀχι-λάος again from ἄχος but with λάος people (Palmer Interpretation p 79)
he whose people has pain Nagy (The Best of the Achaeans pp 69-71) agrees with this hypothesis considering such
a name to accord well with the heros fortunes Holland (Glotta 71 1993 pp 17-27) criticizes Nagys interpretation
on various grounds and prefers to take the first part of the name as a verb meaning frighten given the connection of
ἄχος with terms in other Indo-European languages meaning terror fear thus the name would mean he who frightens
the army 4) According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the figure is a water divinity his name deriving from Indo-European aqwa
through Pelasgic - a highly unlikely derivation
Category Names of heroes
ἈδάmicroαςADAMASTrojan warrior who participated in the assault on the Greeks wall at Troy while fighting alongside his father King
Asios 2 (hence the patronymic Ἀσιάδης) and a group of companions that included Iamenos an Orestes Thoon and
an Oinomaos (Hom Il 12 137-140) After his attempt to kill Antilochos unsuccessful thanks to the intervention of
Poseidon who rendered Adamas weapon harmless he was himself hit with a spear in the lower abdomen by the Cretan
Meriones ending his life (Hom Il 13 560-574) He was with other heroes searched for by Hector who learned of
his death from Paris (Hom Il 13 754-773)
A proper name derived from the common substantive ἀδάmicroας (Hes Theog 161 [Hes] Scut 137) steel it is a
compound of the privative prefix α- and of the root δάmicro- a participle in -ντ here in the passive sense The root is also
very productive in the active sense throughout Greek onomastics (cf Laodamas Iphidamas Chersidamas Eurydamas
Polydamas) It therefore means indomitable unbeatable (Wathelet Dictionnaire des Troyens n 9 pp 167-170) For
the meaning it is possible to compare Acamas indefatigable (Ἀκάmicroας from α- and κάmicroνω work hard suffer)
with whom Adamas is found with some frequency In its formation it is also related to compounds in -τλα (see Atlas
Von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 28 a 1 p 83 sect 63 a 1 p 166) Only in Latin is there also attested the
6
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
feminine form Adamanteia (non-existent in Greek) a reading that was found in the first editions of Hyg Fab 139 but
which should obviously be corrected to Amalthea
Category Names of heroes
ἈδαmicroάστωρADAMASTORA huge monster as big as the Colossus of Rhodes that appeared to Vasco de Gama and the Portuguese fleet near the
Cape of Good Hope foretelling disaster Probably invented by Camotildees Lusiacuteadas 5 st 41-51 on classical models He is
referred to as the companion of Enceladus Aegaeon and of the other Giants who fought against the gods Interrogated
by the leader of the expedition he tells of his own unhappy love for the wife of Peleus Thetis who tricked him with an
apparition of herself for which he was transformed into the rock of the Cape of Good Hope (Lus st 52-60) This figure
is almost totally unknown to Greek and Roman mythology which refers to a giant Damastor (Claudian Gigant 101-103)
while one Adamasthor is listed among the other giants only in Sidon Apollin Carm 1520 (sec V- inizi VI dev)
The name is a nomen agentis formed with the suffix -τωρ from the verbal adjective ἀδαmicroαστός which means
unconquerable unconquered used frequently of young women who have not had sexual relations with a man (from
ἀ- privativo e δαmicro- δάmicroνηmicroι δαmicroάω) It seems to be constructed by analogy with Alagravestor Phobegravetor and would mean
that is unconquerable implacable The adjective ἀδαmicroάστωρ (v l ἀδαmicroάτωρ) is also found in Pap Mag IV 2717
in the sense of virgin said of Hecate
Category Names of gods
Theme Transformation
ἌδmicroητοςADMETUSKing of Pherai in Thessaly son of Pheretes husband of Alcestis (Apollod Bibl 1 8 2 9 16) He participated in the
Calydonian Boar Hunt and in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 1 49-50)
This name is derived from the verbal adjective of δάmicroνηmicroι conquer with privative ἀ- and so means unconquered
There is attested also the feminine Admeta (Ἀδmicroήτη) an Argive priestess daughter of Eurystheus (Pausan 8 4 4)
ἌδωνιςADONISBorn of Myrrharsquos incestuous love for her father Cinyras king of Cyprus His mother was transformed into the tree that
bears her name and the extraordinarily beautiful baby was raised by Aphrodite and Persephone he was killed by a
boar spurred on against him by Artemis (Apollod Bibl 3 14 4) In a local version based in Syria the father had the
name Theias (Ant Lib Metam 34 5)
This name is certainly a Semitic loan-word in Hebrew there is the word adon master lord (Chantraine DELG
Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v p 23)
Theme Incest
7
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἌδραστοςADRASTOSName of the king of Argos that hosted Tydeus and Polyneices gave his daughters Argia and Deipyle to them as wives
and led them on the expedition against Thebes (Hom Il 2 572)
It could be that what we have is a verbal adjective of the verb δι-δράσκω flee with an ἀ privative- which would
mean he who does not try to flee (Chantraine DELG s v διδράσκω) if interpreted in the active sense or better
he to whom one cannot flee if it has a passive sense Wathelet (Dictionnaire des Troyens pp 170-171) however
maintains that it is difficult to justify the presence of σ since the root of δι-δράσκω is δρα- and not δρασ- it could
be foreign to Greek but it is a name firmly attested in Greece - see also the feminine Ἀδράστεια another name for
Nemesis (cf Aesch Prom 936) Perhaps then it is a pre-Hellenic name and the derivation from διδράσκω could be
owed to a folk etymology
Category Names of heroes
ἈγακλήςAGACLESFather of one of the Myrmidons who was king in the town of Budeion (perhaps in Thessaly or in Boeotia Eustath
Comm ad Il 16 570-574) he was succeeded by his son Epeigeus who went into exile for having killed a noble cousin
and was taken in as a guest by Peleus and Thetis in Phthia (Hom Il 16 570-571) but later perished at Troy at the
hands of Hector
A simple compound of the prefix ἀγα- and of κλέος it means extremely glorious of abundant glory cf Agathocles
Megacles Pericles
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαmicroήδηςAGAMEDESName of the architect the son of Stymphalos who with his sons Trophonios and Cercyon built many famous structures
in ancient Greece (Pausan 8 4 8 10 2)
The name is a compound of ἀγα- an intensive prefix and of the verb microήδοmicroαι to plan a project to have in mind and
means therefore one who thinks a lot Also attested in the feminine Agamede (Ἀγαmicroήδη in Hom Il 11 740-741)
daughter of Augeias and wife of Moulios a sorceress skilled in drugs and poisons
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαmicroέmicroνωνAGAMEMNONSon of Atreus brother of Menelaos husband of Clytaimnestra supreme commander of the Achaean army in the Trojan
War (Hom Il passim)
The name is a compound of ἀγα- an intensive prefix the second part of the compound presents some uncertainties It
has been hypothesized that it is based on -microέδmicroων a derivative of microέδοmicroαι to command (Carnoy DEMGR maintains
such a hypothesis) according to Kretschmer (Glotta 3 1912 p 330) this interpretation is not acceptable Hamp
8
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(Glotta 49 1971 pp 21-24) supports the hypothesis already asserted by Heubeck (Gedenkschrift Brandenstein pp
357-61) that it derives from Ἀγα-microέν-microων with metathesis of νmicro gt microν the name would then derive from microένω to
resist with an expressive form of reduplication and would mean one who resists with vigor Van der Valk (in Snell
Lex fr Ep col 34) on the basis of analogy interprets it as an extremely energetic man full of vigor
Category Names of heroes
ἈγανίππηAGANIPPE1 Daughter of Termessos god of the river that flows around Helicon (Pausan 9 29 5 2) and so a Naiad the eponym
of the spring that flows out near the grove of the Muses on Mt Helicon in Boeotia later identified with the fountain
Hippocrene perhaps made to flow by the hoof of the winged horse Pegasos (Verg Eclog 10 12 Ovid Metam 5
262-263 Pausan 9 31 3-4) 2 As an alternative to Eurydike 2 (Schol ad Apollon Rhod 4 1091) she would be the
wife of Acrisius the mother of Danae and grandmother of Perseus Hygin Fab 63 3 A daughter of Aigyptos sacrificed
on the altar of the apotropaic gods in the late account of Ps Plut de fluviis 16 1 4 There exists a late masculine
form Ἀγάνιππος Trojan warrior killed by Ajax along with many companions in a non-Homeric tradition (Quint Smyrn
Posthom 3 227-231)
A compound of the adjective ἀγανός sweet soft and ἵππος mare it could mean tame mare
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ἈγαπήνωρAGAPENORSon of Ankaios and Io leader of the Arcadian contingent who came to the Trojan War from Tegea (Hom Il 2 609 ss)
The name is a compound of the verb ἀγαπάω to love and ἀνήρ man it could mean one who loves men or one
who loves manly courage Cf other personal names such as Ἀντ- ήνωρ Βι- ήνωρ Ἐλεφ- ήνωρ Πεισ- ήνωρ where
the nominal part of the compound seems to be particularly ἀνήρ while for Ὑπερ- ήνωρ the predominant sense is
apparently that of ἠνορέη manly courage which is also found in numerous adjectival compounds
Category Names of heroes
ἈγασθένηςAGASTHENESSon of Augeias brother of Phyleus and father of Polyxeinos who was commander of ten of the 40 ships in the contingent
sent from Elis (Hom Il 2 615-624) and who also appears in the catalog of the suitors of Helen Polyxeinos would
return safe and sound from Troy and would father a son by the name of Amphimachos 3 (Pausan 5 3 4)
9
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
A name easily interpreted it is a compound of the intensive prefix ἀγα- and -σθένος strength very productive in
Greek personal names and so means endowed with great strength (von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 31 a
2 p 89) cf Demosthenes Eurysthenes Megasthenes etc
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάστροφοςAGASTROPHOSIn Homer a Trojan warrior the son of Paion killed by Diomedes by a blow of a spear to the buttocks while fighting
in the front lines on foot after having foolishly separated himself from his chariot and his charioteer (Hom Il 11
338-342 368 Diomedes was struck on the foot by a arrow while trying to strip him of his armor 11 373 cfr Scholia
ad l Eustath 320712 ad l Etym Gudianum 235 15 s v Ἠγαθέη in a compound with ἀγα-)
Wathelet (Dictionnaire des Troyens n 5 pp 148-149) attempts to link this personal name and the military event in
which he is involved ineffectually It may mean des sehr Wendige that is very nimble in movement (von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 22 a 1 p 71) cfr Epistrophos impetuous in attack) so one who turns aggressively
against the enemy from the prefix ἀγα- active in many compounds and the verb στρέφω rotate turn spin
around Less probable (but possible) is he who knows how to turn a chariot in excellent fashion
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάθωνAGATHONSon of Priam cited only once in the last book of Hom Il 24 with the epithet δῖος ldquoillustriousrdquo with eight of his
brothers and half-brothers he was reproached by his elderly father who impatiently waited to have his chariot prepared
so that he could go to reclaim the body of Hector
A simple formation with the suffix -ων from the adjective ἀγαθός goodly capable with recessive accent
Mycenaean recognizes a genitive a-ka-ta-jo-jo (PY En 659) which can be rendered as Ἀγαθαῖος (but also as Ἀκταῖος)
It does not seem necessary to consider it a hypocorism for Agathocles or Agathodoros (Wathelet Dictionnaire des
Troyens I p 147) the name is in any case very common in Greek and it is one of the many examples of entirely
Greek personal names in the Trojan camp
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαυήAGAVEDaughter of Kadmos and of Harmonia mother of Pentheus (Hes Theog 975 ss Eurip Bacch passim) sister of Semele
Ino and Autonoe Another Agave less well-known appears among the Nereids (Hom Il 18 42)
10
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from ἀγαυός admirable noble illustrious an adjective related to the verb ἄγαmicroαι to admire
marvel at (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγαυός)
ἈγέλαοςAGELAOSA rather popular name in Homer we find 1 a Greek officer who was killed along with eight other commanders
(ἡγεmicroόνες) by Hektor in Hom Il 11 301-304 2 a Trojan warrior son of Phradmon the first to have been killed by
Diomedes who after having crossed the ditch with his horses stabbed him with a javelin between his shoulders forcing
it through his chest and making him fall from his chariot in his armor (Hom Il 8 253-260) 3 a slave of Priam who was
charged by the king with exposing Paris on mount Ida but shortly afterwards he was moved by pity and raised the baby
as his own Apollod Bibl 3 12 5 (149-150) 4 one of the suitors of Penelope son of Damastor who tried to convince
Telemachos to agree to allow him to marry his mother (Hom Od 20 321 ss) He urged on Melanthius and other to exit
the hall and raise the alarm during the slaughter of the suitors (Od 22 131 136 212) and was killed by Odysseus with
a spear-blow (Od 22 292-293) 5 son of Herakles and of Omphale ancestor of the kings of Lydia Apollod Bibl 2 7
8 (165) 6 son of Oineus king of Calydon and brother of Meleagros Antonin Lib Metam 2
A compound of the verb ἄγω ldquoto guide leadrdquo and of the substantive λαός ldquopeople in armsrdquo analogous to Agenor
it is perhaps already attested in the Mycenaean a-ke-ra-wo KN Vc 316 (also read Ἀρχέλαος) where there exists also
the nomen agentis ra-wa-ke-ta (PY Un 718 9 etc) usually interpreted as λαϜ-αγέτας ldquoleader of armed troopsrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈγήνωρAGENOR1 Son of Poseidon and Libya and father of Europa Kadmos Phoinix and Cilix (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4 3 1) and
descendant of Argive Io 2 Among other characters with this name there is a Trojan hero son of Antenor frequently
mentioned in the Iliad (21 544-599 e passim)
The name means ldquohe who leads the men valiantrdquo as it is a compound of ἄγω ldquoto leadrdquo and of ἀνήρ man By
contrast Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 32) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 99) maintain that
the first part of the name is the intensive prefix ἀγα- and that the name means ldquoextremely manly courageousrdquo The
first interpretation seems preferable by far because compounds in ἀγα- are most often formed from verbs (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens de lIliade p 154)
Category Names of heroes
ἈγλαίαAGLAIAName of one of the Graces or Charites (Hes Theog 69 907 ss)
11
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It is derived from the adjective ἀγλαός illustrious shining and means she who displays radiance beauty
Category Names of gods
ἌγριοςAGRIOS1 A giant who was killed along with Thoas by the Moirai in the Gigantomachy when these two sons of Gaia fought
against the gods (Apollod Bibl 1 6 2) 2 Son of Portheus and brother of Oineus (king of Calydon in Aitolia grandfather
of Diomedes) and of Melas with whom he lived in Pleuron (Hom Il 14 116-118) He had six children including
Thersites who deposed Oineus in favor of their own father before departing for the Trojan War (Apollod Bibl 1 8 68)
According to Hyginus after the fall of the city Diomedes learned that his grandfather had been deposed and ousted
Agrios who committed suicide because of it (Hygin Fab 175 242 and Antonin Lib Metam 37 1) 3 Centaur that
Heracles drove off by throwing red-hot coals at him when he drawn by the smell of wine rushed to the wine-jar of
Pholos which had been opened during the heros fourth labor when he was passing through Arcadia (Apollod Bibl 2 5
4) 4 Brother of Oreios he was a Thracian giant born of Polyphonte and a bear he and his brother would haul strangers
off and devour them He was transformed by the gods into a vulture to punish him for his cruel bestiality (Antonin Lib
Metam 21) 5 Son of Circe and Odysseus brother of Latinos and of Telegonos (Hes Theog 1011-1014)
Derived directly from the adjective ἄγριος uncultivated or not domesticated even savage violent Von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 4 b 1 p 14 compares it to the compound Μελέαγρος not coincidentally his nephew
Since the countryside as an uncultivated area is normally fitting for activity connected to hunting one could easily
explain that the term ἄγριος could mean either ldquohe who nurtures the landrdquo (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγρός) or ldquohe
who hunts in an uncultivated areardquo
Category Names of heroes
ἌγρωνAGRONName of an inhabitant of the island of Cos who along with his sisters Byssa and Meropis worshiped only the Earth and
insulted the other gods who in revenge transformed him into a plover (Anton Lib Met 15 from Boios Ornithogonia)
It possibly derives from ἀγρός field land and means something like lover of fields man of the country
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Transformation
ΑἴαςAIAS (AJAX)Name of two Homeric heroes 1 the son of Oileus of Locris (Hom Il 13 46 23 754) 2 the son of Telamon king
of Salamis (Hom Il 2 553 7 183) he killed himself by falling on his sword cf Sophocles tragedy Aias which is
dedicated to him
Various theories have been proposed as to how to interpret this name 1) already in antiquity it was connected to
αἰετός eagle (Hes Fr 250 = Schol ad Pind Isth 6 53 Apollod Bibl 3 12 7) a complete invention 2) it could be
related to αἶα land (Chantraine DELG von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 168 Van der Valk in Snell Lex
12
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
fr Ep col 232) and would mean man of the earth or the descendant of Aia 3) already attested in Mycenaean ai-
wa (Kn Np 973) perhaps as a bovine name it could be interpreted as a hypocorism of Αἴολος alive from the Indo-
European aiu+unt- he who has dynamic strength vigorous (Muumlhlestein Studi Micenei 2 1967 pp 41-52 Carnoy
DEMGR and von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 368)
Category Names of heroes
ἈλέκτωρALEKTORName of different figures including 1) the son of Anaxagoras (Apollod Bibl 3 6 2) 2) the son of Epeios (Diod Sic
4 69) 3) the son of Argeios grandson of Pelops he is the father of Iphiloche or Echemela (Schol ad Hom Od 4 10)
whom Menelaos gave in matrimony to Megapenthes 4) the father of the Argonaut Leitos (Apollod Bibl 1 9 16)
Already attested in Mycenaean a-re-ko-to-re (KN Ce 1521) it is a nomen agentis in -τωρ from the verb ἀλέκω ldquoto
defend repelrdquo and thus means ldquothe defenderrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈλεκτρύωνALEKTRYONName of the sentry assigned by Ares to inform him about the approach of day while the god was occupied in his affair
with Aphrodite (Eustath ad Hom 1598 61) it is obviously an allusion to the cock-crow
It is attested in Mycenaean in the form A-re-ku-tu-ru-wo (PY An 6548) It means ldquoroosterrdquo and is formed from ἀλέκτωρ
ldquodefenderrdquo since it refers to a combative animal (Chantraine DELG s v ἀλέξω) Ruijgh (Minos 9 1968 p 153)
prefers to interpret it instead as a derivative of ἄλεκτρον a defensive implement
ἈλήτηςALETESSon of Hippotes descendant of Herakles born during the return of the Herakleidai (Pausan 2 4 4 5 18 8)
It means wanderer vagabond and is the nomen agentis of the verb ἀλάοmicroαι to wander (Chantraine DELG s v
ἀλάοmicroαι)
Category Names of heroes
ἈφροδίτηAPHRODITEGoddess of love (Hom Il 5 820 and passim Hymn Hom ad Ven Hes Theog 190 ff) born of the foam of the sea
and the genitals of Ouranos or according to another tradition of Zeus and Dione
She is a goddess of Near Eastern origin and later there arises a folk etymology that interprets the name as coming from
ἀφρός foam (Plat Crat 406 c) οὕνεκ ἐν ἀφρῷ θρέφθη (Hes Theog 197-198) The theory of Grimme (Glotta 14
1925 p 18) who proposes an association with the Semitic goddess of fertility Astoret has not been proven nor has
that of Hammarstroumlm (Glotta 11 1921 pp 214 ff) who compares this name with the pre-Indo-European πρύτανις
13
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Etruscan (e)pr ni this latter hypothesis is also maintained by Carnoy (DEMGR) but with the help of Pelasgian phonology
according to which p would become ph
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ἈθήνηATHENAA goddess daughter of Zeus and Metis born from the head of the god (Hes Theog 886 ss)
This name is already attested in Mycenaean in the form of a-ta-na-po-ti-ni-ja (KN V 521 52 bis) and is difficult to
explain Carnoy (DEMGR) supports the Pelasgic hypothesis of Van Windekens (Le Peacutelasgique pp 40-41) according to
whom the initial Ath- is a Pelasgic form of the Indo-European at-no Sanskrit atta mother with the change t gt th
but Athena does not have maternal characteristics in the historical period It is possible that it is a pre-Hellenic name
(cfr van der Valk in Snell Lex fr Ep col 208)
Category Names of gods
ΒαῖοςBAIOS or BAEUSHelmsman of Odysseus whose name was supposedly given to various places for instance a mountain on the island of
Cephalonia and the town of Baia in Campania (Strab 1 p 26 5 p 245 Lycophr Alex 694) The name only occurs in
the post-classical period and does not appear in the Homeric poems
The name apparently derives from βαιός short unimportant with the recessive accent often found with
anthroponyms
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΒαλίοςBALIOS or BALIUSOne of the two immortal horses of Achilles (Xanthus) son of Zephyrus and the Harpy Podarge who was given to Peleus
by Poseidon perhaps on the occasion of Peleusrsquo wedding to Thetis The third horse of Achilles team was Pedasus who
was killed in battle 2 The horse of Celmis (or Schelmis) beaten in a race by the mare of Erechtheus named Podarce
(Nonn Dionys 37 334-337) 3 One of the dogs of Actaeon in Apollod Bibl 33 4 4
With a recessive accent Baliacuteos is simply derived from βαλιός speckled spotted
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασίλειαBASILEIAEldest daughter of Uranus and Titaia who distinguished herself from her sisters through her wisdom and intelligence she
married her brother Hyperion and gave birth to Selene and Helios (Diod Sic 3 57 who reports a non-Greek tradition)
14
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means queen ending in the suffix -y - Its origin is probably as a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v
βασιλεύς) from Mycenean qa-si-re-u
Category Names of gods
ΒασιλίσκοςBASILISKA serpent of small size no more than twelve inches long (about a handrsquos length) marked by a white spot on the head
is also distinguished from other snakes by traveling upright rather than slithering (erectus in medio incedens Plin
Nat Hist 8 33 78 Aelian Hist anim 2 5)One is tempted to identify it with the cobra Lucan (Bell Civ 724-26)
mentioned its death-bringing hiss including it in his comprehensive catalogue of snakes to which Dante alludes in the
Circle of Hell dedicated to thieves (Inf 24 85 ff) Not only its touch but its breath is destructive wherever it appears
(exurit herbas rumpit saxa) Its venom can pass through objects if it is true that one time as Pliny says a rider and
his horse were destroyed by poison traveling up the long spear used for killing the serpent cf also Aelian Nat anim 2
5 The power of its gaze is terrible anyone who meets it dies The only way to look upon it is ithrough the reflection of
a mirror just as Perseus had done with Medusa from whose blood all the reptiles of Libya arose (Lucan Bell Civ 696
ff) Alexander the Great during his campaign in India to defeat the horrible creature (cf Leo Neapol Hist de prelis
Alex Magni rec I 3 p 320 sec X) used the stratagem of putting mirrors on the shields of his soldiers The basiliskrsquos
mortal enemies are the weasel and the cock the first kills him with its own smell (Plin Nat hist 8 33 79) the
second protected travelers who passed through Libya (Aelian Nat anim 3 31) In Late Antique and Medieval bestiaries
its nature is linked to that of its enemy the cock it too can go on all fours or can assume plumage while keeping a
reptilian tail thus arose the basilgallo (basilicock in Chaucer) In the Middle Ages it had a negative connotation at
times relating it to the Devil (or Antichrist) to the sinner or heresy To St Antony of Padua (Sermoni) it represented
wrath Cecco dAscoli who was burned at the stake in 1327 on the charge of sorcery records that the basilisk is the
Lord of serpents (Acerba 30) The preconception has biblical roots Isaiah (59 5) mentions a poisonous reptile the
Hebrew tsepha that in the translation of the Septuagint became βασιλίσκος and in the Vulgate basiliscus It likewise
occurs in Jeremiah 8 17 and in Psalms 91 13 Modern translations more cautiously prefers asp viper serpent
The etymology is simple βασιλίσκος diminutive of βασιλεύς (a word already attested in Mycenaean qa-si-re-u)
means little king lat basiliscus and regulus designating the king of the serpents due to its terrible powers in
spite of its small size
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασσάραBASSARAName of a Thracian Bacchant (Athen 5 7 p 198)
15
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means fox but also suggests the clothing of the Thracian bacchants which were made from fox pelts it
is a term derived from a loan word perhaps linked to the cult of Dionysus (Chantraine DELG s v) cf the verb ἀνα-
βασσαρέω Anacr fr 11 6 (356) PMG to revel Braccini T Glotta 86 2010 pp 7-21
ΒάτωνBATONA Theban the relative and charioteer of Amphiaraus He was swallowed up along with him into a chasm that opened
in the earth in front of Thebes (Pausan 2 23 2 5 17 8 10 10 3)
The name may come from βάτος bramble and may mean bramble or one who inhabits the bramble
Category Names of heroes
ΒάττοςBATTUSThe name of an old man transformed into a rock by Hermes because he did not keep secret the theft of Apollos cattle
(Anton Lib Met 23) A more widely known character with this name is the founder of Cyrene the son of Polymnestus
and Phronima (Herodot 4 145 ff Callim Hymn 2 65 Pausan 3 14 3 10 15 6-7)
The name belongs to the family of the verb βατταρίζω to stutter and means the stutterer they are onomatopoetic
terms According to Herodotus (4 145 ff) it could signify king in Libyan Masson (Glotta 54 1976 pp 84-98) favors
the first interpretation since the words of Herodotus are general and we lack information on South-Eastern Libyan
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΒαυβώBAUBOEleusinian wife of Dysaules received Demeter into her home and tried to cheer her up by lifting her dress and exposing
herself to Demeter (Clem Alex Protr 2 21)
The name is derived from the colloquial verb βαυβάω to sleep but also took on the meaning of female sex A less
acceptable suggestion of Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 73) is a derivation from βαΰζω to murmur or from
πραΰνω to soothe which according to him are applicable to a governess
Category Female names
ΒαῦκιςBAUCISA Phrygian woman who together with her husband Philemon welcomed Zeus and Hermes they sent a flood upon all
the other villagers who had not welcomed them but transformed these two into trees and their hut into a temple
(Ovid Met 8 616-715)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from βαυκός soft tender a folk word of uncertain etymology (Chantraine DELG) Room (Rooms
Classical Dictionary p 73) believes that it may have the same source as Baubo and in particular may be explained in
connection with πραΰνω to calm but such hypotheses are groundless
Category Female names
Theme Transformation
ΒελλεροφόντηςBELLEROPHONSon of Poseidon and the daughter of the king of Megara Iobates after he received a request from Proteus to kill the
hero commanded Bellerophon to slay the Chimera believing that this could not be done then sent him against the
Solymi the Amazons and Lydians until he recognized his divine nature (Hom Il 6 155-205 216-26)
Already in antiquity the name was interpreted as slayer of Belleros from the verb θείνω to slay that often appears
in the second part of compounds in the form -φόντης According to Kretschmer (Glotta 24 1936 pp 237-38 e 273
31 1951 pp 92 ff) this is an acceptable interpretation considering that Belleros is the name of a local demon On the
other hand Malten (Hermes 79 1944 pp 10 ff) views as a conjecture derived from popular imagination According
to Chantraine (DELG) supported also by Carnoy (DEMGR) Heubecks suggestion (Beitr Namenf 5 1954 pp 25-28)
that the name means full of strength being a compound of an Indo-European derivative bel- strength and ghwen
to swell up with cannot be proven
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΒῆλοςBELOSThe name of one of the two twin sons of the nymph Libya and Poseidon (the other was called Agenor) grandsons of
Epaphus (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4)
The name derives from the Semitic name of the god Baal Bel (Bernhard in Roscher Myth Lex I col 778)
Category Names of heroes
ΒιάνωρBIANORSon of the Tiber and the nymph Manto he founded the city of Mantua (Serv ad Verg Ecl 9 60)
This name is a compound of βιάω to tame to defeat and of ἀνήρ man and thus means he who forcefully tames
heroes Alternatively Pape- Benseler (WGE) translate it as a hard cruel violent man
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΒιήνωρBIENORTrojan captain with a Greek name called ποιmicroὴν λαῶν shepherd of people mentioned only once in Hom Il 11
92-93 when he was killed and stripped of his arms by Agamemnon together with his companion in arms and charioteer
Oileus
With the verbal sense of βια- it means ldquohe who with force dominates the enemy herordquo cf Bianor (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens I p 372-374) Elephenor Elpenor
Category Names of heroes
ΒορέαςBOREASGod of the North Wind the son of Eos and Astraeus brother of Zephyrus and Notus (Hes Theog 378)
One theory is that it means wind from the mountain related to Sanskrit giriacute- Avestan gairi- and ancient Slavic gora
mountain (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of gods
ΒῶροςBOROSBORUS1 Mentioned in Homer as the father of Phaestus Hom Il 5 44 he lived in Tarne Maeonia in the region of Smyrna
2 Another Borus in Homer (Il 16 177-178) son of Perieres was married to Polydora in Phthia Thessaly Polydora the
daughter of Peleus and Antigone 2 (Apollod Bibl 3 13 1) had a son Menesthius actually fathered by the river god
Spercheus (Il 16 173-176) 3 Son of Penthilus a descendant of Nestor grandson of Periclymenus had a son named
Andropompus who was the father of Melanthus who was expelled by the Hereclidae (Pausan 2 18 8)
The name probably is not Greek hence it is pointless to search for an explanation (as Pape-Benseler have done s v) by
resorting to the Hesychian gloss Βωροί ὀφθαλmicroοί eyes (Frisk GEW s v) Possibly related to the Βωρεῖς the name
of a tribe in Cyzicus (von Kamptz Homerische Personenn sect 81 pp 322)
Category Names of heroes
ΒουφάγοςBOUPHAGUSArcadian hero son of Iapetos and of Thornax killed by Artemis while chasing her on Mt Pholoe (Pausan 8 14 9 27 17)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of βοῦς ldquooxrdquo and the aorist φαγεῖν of the verb ἐσθίω ldquoto eatrdquo it therefore means ldquoeater
of oxenrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ΒούτηςBOUTESBUTESName of various people including 1 A son of Boreas father of Hippodamia (Diod Sic 4 70) who tried to kill his
half-brother Licurgus and once discovered fled from Thessaly to Naxos where he became a pirate (Diod Sic 5 50)
2 Another was the son of the king of Athens Pandion and Zeuxippe (Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) brother of Procne and
Philomela founder of the hereditary priesthood of the Athenian Eteobutadai 3 A third son of Teleon participated
in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 4 912-19) He was the only one who threw himself into the sea
after he heard the song of the Sirens overwhelmed by the song of Orpheus He was saved by Aphrodite and afterwards
founded the colony of Lilybaeum near Eryx on Sicily
Derived from βούς cow and simply means cowherd
Category Names of heroes
ΒουζύγηςBOUZYGESA mythical character to whom the invention of the yoke is attributed (Serv ad Verg Georg 1 19 Hesych s v)
The name is a simple compound of βούς cow and the verb ζεύγνυmicroι to join and therefore means yoker of cows
Category Names of heroes
ΒράγχοςBRANCHUSSon of Smycrus a hero orginally from Delphi but who settled in Miletus before his birth his mother had a vision of the
sun descending into her mouth passing through her body and out of her vulva He was beloved by Apollo who gave
him the gift of prophecy (Conon Narr 33)
The name derives from the adjective βραγχός hoarse a technical term whose etymology is not clear one could
perhaps compare old Irish brong(a)ide hoarseness (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ΒρέmicroουσαBREMUSAAccording to a late poem (IV cent CE) she is one of the 12 Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy Quint
Smyrn Posthom 1 43 she is killed by Idomeneus with a stroke of his spear to her right breast
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
20
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
21
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
22
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
23
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
24
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
25
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
26
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἈβαρβαρέηABARBAREAA naiad gave birth by the Trojan Bucolion to the twins Aesepus and Pedasus 2 (Hom Il 6 21-22 27-28) who were
killed in battle by Euryalus 1 In late sources she taught the art of healing wounds and other maladies to another of
her sons Euphorbus (Orph Lith 461-464)
Formation with expressive reduplication and a perhaps intensifying ἀ- of uncertain meaning who expresses themself
with confused language who babbles much () The etymology from ἀ- privative and βόρβορος mud suggested in
Pape-Benseler - in which case the name would mean lacking mud that is pure (fitting for a water nymph) - seems
unlikely likewise the etymology from ἀ- copulative the muddy one (Reichelt Zeitschr vergl Sprachforsch 43
1910 pp 96-97) which Mette (in Snell Lex fr Ep s v) rightly considers very uncertain The suggestion of Schol ad
Il 622 b deriving the name from an obscure ἀβέρβελλον abundant and confused does not seem very convincing
Category Female names
ἌβαςABAS1 Trojan warrior son of Eurydamas 2 killed by Diomedes (Hom Il 5 148) in other traditions he is the son of Poseidon
and the nymph Arethusa 2 More famously the ancient king of Argos son of Lynceus and Hypermnestra inventor of
the shield father of the twins Acrisius and Proetus (Apollod Bibl 2 2 1 Serv ad Aen 3 286) 3 A third Abas great-
grandchild of the preceding is son of the seer Melampus (Apollod Bibl 1 9 13)
The etymology is uncertain and like not of Greek formation as the suffix -nt- seems to show the sense of giant
proposed by Pape and Benseler with some doubt does not seem well grounded
Category Names of heroes
ἌβδηροςABDERUSSon of Hermes or of Poseidon and the nymph Thronia (Pind Paean 2 1-2 104-106) of Locrian origin erogravemenos of
Heracles whom he accompanied in search for the man-eating horses of Diomedes by which he was devoured (Apollod
Bibl 2 5 8) The hero founded near his tomb the city of Abdera on the coast of Thrace cf Hellan Lesb Fr 105
Fowler (= Steph Byz s v Ἄβδηρα) at the outlets of the river Nestos According to Philostratus who describes a
painting depicting in a lively fashion the achievements of A Imag 2 25 Heracles founded not only the city but also
established annual games including competitions in all sports except horse racing for understandable reasons
A connection with δῆρις fight (Rooms Classical Dictionary) - thus understanding the name to mean son of the battle
- does not seem likely It is perhaps connected to the Hesychian gloss ἄβδης microάστιξ (in Hipponax) in which case the
name would mean the man with the whip it could also be of non-Greek formation
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
2
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἈβίαABIAThe elderly nurse of Glenos the son of Heracles after the defeat of the Dorians led by the Heraclid Hyllus at the hands
of the Achaeans she retreated into Messenia to the city of Ira (perhaps one of the cities promised by Agamemnon to
Achilles) which the Heraclid Cresphontes renamed Abia after her (Pausan 4 30 1)
It does not seem that this name is related to the legendary people the Abioi (q v) It may nevertheless mean belonging
to the people of the Abioi
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ἌβιοιABIIA legendary people named at Homer Il 13 6 after the Hippemolgoi the Thracians and Mysians whom he gives the
epithet the most just of all men Zeus directed his gaze toward these peoples when he turned away from the events of
Troy They were identified by the ancients with the nomadic Scythians from whom even the wise Anacharsis may have
descended (Schol Hom Il ad loc) Elsewhere they are identified with the Thracian peoples perhaps to be equated
with the people that Aeschylus calls the Gabii in a fragment from Prom lib cited at Steph Byz s v (Aesch Fr 196
N = 329 M) Strabo drawing from Posidonius discusses these peoples at great length at 7 3 2-4
All of the various etymologies proposed by the ancients seem hypothetical running from long-lived (βίος) to experts
with the bow (βιός bow) or otherwise those who do not use bows in the last case the ἀ is interpreted as privative
and not epitactic (ie intensive) Alternatively it came to be interpreted as non-violent ἀ- βιαίοι (Schol ad Il 13
6 Etymol Magn s v)
Category Names of populations
ἌβληροςABLEROSTrojan warrior killed with a spear by Antilochos son of Nestor during a fierce battle fought between the Xanthos and
Simois rivers (Hom Il 6 32-33) There is no other notice of him
The scholion ad loc supposes an ἀ- that is perhaps privative and an unattested βλῶ βλήσω adj βληρός that is
difficult to interpret even the gloss in Hesychius ἀβληράmiddot ἡνία reins does not help much and still less recourse
to βλῆρ decoy trap snare (Wathelet Dictionn des Troyennes p 144 is also skeptical) Thus the personal name
remains unexplained
Category Names of heroes
ἈκακαλλίςACACALLISThis was the name of one of the daughters of Minos loved by Hermes and by Apollo who was the mother of Miletus
(Nicandr ap Anton Lib Metam 30 1) the young man with whom Minos fell madly in love Others say that she gave
3
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
birth by Hermes to Cydon (Pausan 8 53 4) or always by Apollo to the Cretan twins Phylakides and Philander who
were nursed by a she-goat (Pausan 10 16 5)
The name refers to the tamarisk according to Dioscor 1 89 or the narcissus cf Hesych s v and is probably of
Egyptian origin (Chantraine DELG)
Theme Transformation
ἈκαλανθίςACALANTISDaughter of King Pierus of Macedonia With her eight sisters she dared compete with the Muses in song and for this
they were transformed into birds Acalantis become a goldfinch (Anton Lib Metam 9)
The name means precisely goldfinch (DArcy Thompson A Glossary of Greek Birds pp 30 ss) and derives from
ἄκανθα which refers to various spiny plants like the thistle with metathesis from ἀκανθαλίς
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Transformation
ἈκάmicroαςACAMAS1 Thracian leader counted among the bravest an ally of the Trojans and co-commander with Peiroos (Hom Il 2
844-845 5 462-469) He was son of Eussoros and was killed by Ajax with a blow from his spear through the forehead
(Hom Il 6 7-10) 2 Son of Antenor and brother of Archelochos (Hom Il 2 822-823 11 60) he together with his
brother and Aeneias led the fourth contingent of Trojan soldiers (Hom Il 12 98-100) He prevailed in a confrontation
with Promachos avenging his brothers death and after warding off the attack of Peneleos (Hom Il 14 476-489)
died when he was shot in his right shoulder by Meriones while getting back into his chariot (Hom Il 16 342-344) 3
Son of Theseus and of Phaidra brother of Demophon (Diod Bibl 4 62) he became the object of Laodices desire and
had a son by her Munitos (Parth Narr amat 16) who was raised by Aithra during his return from Troy he landed in
Thrace where Phyllis too fell in love with him (Apollod Epit 6 16) on Cyprus he founded a colony and died when
he fell off a horse onto his sword (Tzetz ad Lycophr 494)
A Greek name it is an alpha-privative compound that is precisely the same form as the adjective ἀκάmicroας with a
privative prefix ἀ- and root καmicroα- to be derived from κάmicroνω work hard suffer intended here in the passive sense it
means the indefatigable For a similar formation cf Adamas Wathelet Dictionnaire des Troyens n 17 pp 242-249
von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 63 a p 166 Room Roomrsquos Classical Dictionary s v p 20)
Category Names of heroes
ἌκαστοςACASTUSSon of the king of Iolchus Pelias and of Anaxibia participated in the expedition of the Argonauts and in the hunt for
the boar of Calydon (Apollod Bibl 1910 916 927 3133 137-8)
It could be a compound of the verb κέκασmicroαι to excel shine and of ἀ- privative it would therefore mean he
who does not shine rightly Carnoy (DEMGR) points out that such a name would not be very fitting for a hero for
4
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
which reason it is better to take the ἀ- as an intensifier and to understand the name as he who shines much the
splendid (cf anche von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 151 and Scholz in Snell Lex fr Ep col 406) The
feminine form Acasta (Ἀκάστη) is also attested the name of an Oceanid (Hes Theog 356)
Ἀκεσ(σ)αmicroενόςACESSAMENOSFather of Periboia 3 grandfather of Pelagon is mentioned only one time in Hom Il 21 143-144
Participial formation from the verb ἀκέοmicroαι cf the aorist ἠκεσάmicroην (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect 62 a b
p 164 cfr Iamenos Ialmenos Ormenos) it could mean he who is healed (less likely in the middle sense he who
has healed an illness Pape - Benseler s v heilbringer) According to Wathelet Dictionnaire des Troyens n 19 pp
250-251) it could be of non-Greek origin perhaps Macedonian connected with the city of Ἀκεσ(σ)αmicroεναί which
according to Steph Byz Ethn s v Ἀκεσαmicroεναί was founded precisely by our hero For the accentuation cf Schol
Hom ad loc ὀξυτονητέον τὸ Ἀκεσσαmicroενός ἵνα ὄνοmicroα γένηται as with Dexamenoacutes and Tisamenoacutes
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ἈχάτηςACHATES1 The name of a Trojan who accompanied Aeneas to Italy (Verg Aen 1120) 2 and of a Tyrrhenian companion of
Dionysus (Nonn Dion 13 309 37 350)
The name means agate (chalcedony quartz) and is probably a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v)
Category Names of heroes
ἈχέρωνACHERONCharacter who is supposed to have fathered Ascalaphos by a nymph of the underworld () by the name of Gorgyra
(Apollod 1 33 [= 1 5 3]) or elsewhere Orphne (Ovid Metam 5 539-541 in Greek there exists the adjective orphnoacutes
dark but not as a proper name so it is possible that it is an Ovidian invention) It is apparently the late creation of a
character to create an eponym for the name of the river even if the son that came to be attributed to him seems tied
to stories in the Demeter myth that look traditional enough The evidence (followed by Natalis Comes Mythologiae
III p 97) that makes him the son of Ceres and perhaps of a king of Sicily named Sicanus delivered by the goddess in
secret in a cave on Crete does not appear before Boccaccio Genealog deorum gentilium 3 4 1 who cites sources
that are highly dubious such as Theodontius and Pronapis and does not seem reliable
The Greek etymologies of the name of the river already known to Homer (Od 11 513 hapax it is identified with
many rivers the most famous of which still bears the name today and empties into the sea near Parga in Epeiros where
there also sat an oracle of the dead Νεκυοmicroαντεῖον cf Herodot 5 92 η) from ἀ- privative and χαίρειν because
those who go down there do not experience joy or elsewhere from ἄχεα ῥέων pouring forth sorrows (Etym M 180
46-57 s v) are evidently folk etymologies The same can be said for the meaning pale faded Bleichach (Pape and
Benseler GEW already in Plutarch de primo frig 948 E ἄχρωστος colorless) However even the comparisons with
Old Pers assaran or OCS jezero to reconstruct an ancient form ἀχεροντ- that would mean lake marsh (Chantraine
5
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
DELG s v) do not seem very convincing Less suspect might be its connection to the adjective ἀχερωίς river of white
poplar trees (Carnoy DEMGR s v) But the etymology remains uncertain
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ἈχιλλεύςACHILLESName of the son of Peleus and Thetis father of Pyrrhus Neoptolemus (Hom Il passim)
Already in Mycenaean in the form a-ki-re-u (KN Vc 106) The etymology is not clear but different hypotheses have been
made 1) According to Apollodorus (Bibl 3136 Schol ad Lycophr 178 etc) the hero was so named by Chiron his lips
had never tasted the milk of Thetis and so the name would be from ἀ- privative and χείλη lip 2) It could be a pre-
Hellenic name (Bosshardt Die Nomina auf -εύς par 444 and Nordheider in Snell Lex fr Ep col 1754) 3) It could be
from ἄχος pain through a form ἄχιλος as ὄργιλος derives from ὀργή (Kretschmer Glotta 4 1915 pp 305-308)
it could also be a hypochoristic of Ἀχι-λάος again from ἄχος but with λάος people (Palmer Interpretation p 79)
he whose people has pain Nagy (The Best of the Achaeans pp 69-71) agrees with this hypothesis considering such
a name to accord well with the heros fortunes Holland (Glotta 71 1993 pp 17-27) criticizes Nagys interpretation
on various grounds and prefers to take the first part of the name as a verb meaning frighten given the connection of
ἄχος with terms in other Indo-European languages meaning terror fear thus the name would mean he who frightens
the army 4) According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the figure is a water divinity his name deriving from Indo-European aqwa
through Pelasgic - a highly unlikely derivation
Category Names of heroes
ἈδάmicroαςADAMASTrojan warrior who participated in the assault on the Greeks wall at Troy while fighting alongside his father King
Asios 2 (hence the patronymic Ἀσιάδης) and a group of companions that included Iamenos an Orestes Thoon and
an Oinomaos (Hom Il 12 137-140) After his attempt to kill Antilochos unsuccessful thanks to the intervention of
Poseidon who rendered Adamas weapon harmless he was himself hit with a spear in the lower abdomen by the Cretan
Meriones ending his life (Hom Il 13 560-574) He was with other heroes searched for by Hector who learned of
his death from Paris (Hom Il 13 754-773)
A proper name derived from the common substantive ἀδάmicroας (Hes Theog 161 [Hes] Scut 137) steel it is a
compound of the privative prefix α- and of the root δάmicro- a participle in -ντ here in the passive sense The root is also
very productive in the active sense throughout Greek onomastics (cf Laodamas Iphidamas Chersidamas Eurydamas
Polydamas) It therefore means indomitable unbeatable (Wathelet Dictionnaire des Troyens n 9 pp 167-170) For
the meaning it is possible to compare Acamas indefatigable (Ἀκάmicroας from α- and κάmicroνω work hard suffer)
with whom Adamas is found with some frequency In its formation it is also related to compounds in -τλα (see Atlas
Von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 28 a 1 p 83 sect 63 a 1 p 166) Only in Latin is there also attested the
6
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
feminine form Adamanteia (non-existent in Greek) a reading that was found in the first editions of Hyg Fab 139 but
which should obviously be corrected to Amalthea
Category Names of heroes
ἈδαmicroάστωρADAMASTORA huge monster as big as the Colossus of Rhodes that appeared to Vasco de Gama and the Portuguese fleet near the
Cape of Good Hope foretelling disaster Probably invented by Camotildees Lusiacuteadas 5 st 41-51 on classical models He is
referred to as the companion of Enceladus Aegaeon and of the other Giants who fought against the gods Interrogated
by the leader of the expedition he tells of his own unhappy love for the wife of Peleus Thetis who tricked him with an
apparition of herself for which he was transformed into the rock of the Cape of Good Hope (Lus st 52-60) This figure
is almost totally unknown to Greek and Roman mythology which refers to a giant Damastor (Claudian Gigant 101-103)
while one Adamasthor is listed among the other giants only in Sidon Apollin Carm 1520 (sec V- inizi VI dev)
The name is a nomen agentis formed with the suffix -τωρ from the verbal adjective ἀδαmicroαστός which means
unconquerable unconquered used frequently of young women who have not had sexual relations with a man (from
ἀ- privativo e δαmicro- δάmicroνηmicroι δαmicroάω) It seems to be constructed by analogy with Alagravestor Phobegravetor and would mean
that is unconquerable implacable The adjective ἀδαmicroάστωρ (v l ἀδαmicroάτωρ) is also found in Pap Mag IV 2717
in the sense of virgin said of Hecate
Category Names of gods
Theme Transformation
ἌδmicroητοςADMETUSKing of Pherai in Thessaly son of Pheretes husband of Alcestis (Apollod Bibl 1 8 2 9 16) He participated in the
Calydonian Boar Hunt and in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 1 49-50)
This name is derived from the verbal adjective of δάmicroνηmicroι conquer with privative ἀ- and so means unconquered
There is attested also the feminine Admeta (Ἀδmicroήτη) an Argive priestess daughter of Eurystheus (Pausan 8 4 4)
ἌδωνιςADONISBorn of Myrrharsquos incestuous love for her father Cinyras king of Cyprus His mother was transformed into the tree that
bears her name and the extraordinarily beautiful baby was raised by Aphrodite and Persephone he was killed by a
boar spurred on against him by Artemis (Apollod Bibl 3 14 4) In a local version based in Syria the father had the
name Theias (Ant Lib Metam 34 5)
This name is certainly a Semitic loan-word in Hebrew there is the word adon master lord (Chantraine DELG
Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v p 23)
Theme Incest
7
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἌδραστοςADRASTOSName of the king of Argos that hosted Tydeus and Polyneices gave his daughters Argia and Deipyle to them as wives
and led them on the expedition against Thebes (Hom Il 2 572)
It could be that what we have is a verbal adjective of the verb δι-δράσκω flee with an ἀ privative- which would
mean he who does not try to flee (Chantraine DELG s v διδράσκω) if interpreted in the active sense or better
he to whom one cannot flee if it has a passive sense Wathelet (Dictionnaire des Troyens pp 170-171) however
maintains that it is difficult to justify the presence of σ since the root of δι-δράσκω is δρα- and not δρασ- it could
be foreign to Greek but it is a name firmly attested in Greece - see also the feminine Ἀδράστεια another name for
Nemesis (cf Aesch Prom 936) Perhaps then it is a pre-Hellenic name and the derivation from διδράσκω could be
owed to a folk etymology
Category Names of heroes
ἈγακλήςAGACLESFather of one of the Myrmidons who was king in the town of Budeion (perhaps in Thessaly or in Boeotia Eustath
Comm ad Il 16 570-574) he was succeeded by his son Epeigeus who went into exile for having killed a noble cousin
and was taken in as a guest by Peleus and Thetis in Phthia (Hom Il 16 570-571) but later perished at Troy at the
hands of Hector
A simple compound of the prefix ἀγα- and of κλέος it means extremely glorious of abundant glory cf Agathocles
Megacles Pericles
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαmicroήδηςAGAMEDESName of the architect the son of Stymphalos who with his sons Trophonios and Cercyon built many famous structures
in ancient Greece (Pausan 8 4 8 10 2)
The name is a compound of ἀγα- an intensive prefix and of the verb microήδοmicroαι to plan a project to have in mind and
means therefore one who thinks a lot Also attested in the feminine Agamede (Ἀγαmicroήδη in Hom Il 11 740-741)
daughter of Augeias and wife of Moulios a sorceress skilled in drugs and poisons
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαmicroέmicroνωνAGAMEMNONSon of Atreus brother of Menelaos husband of Clytaimnestra supreme commander of the Achaean army in the Trojan
War (Hom Il passim)
The name is a compound of ἀγα- an intensive prefix the second part of the compound presents some uncertainties It
has been hypothesized that it is based on -microέδmicroων a derivative of microέδοmicroαι to command (Carnoy DEMGR maintains
such a hypothesis) according to Kretschmer (Glotta 3 1912 p 330) this interpretation is not acceptable Hamp
8
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(Glotta 49 1971 pp 21-24) supports the hypothesis already asserted by Heubeck (Gedenkschrift Brandenstein pp
357-61) that it derives from Ἀγα-microέν-microων with metathesis of νmicro gt microν the name would then derive from microένω to
resist with an expressive form of reduplication and would mean one who resists with vigor Van der Valk (in Snell
Lex fr Ep col 34) on the basis of analogy interprets it as an extremely energetic man full of vigor
Category Names of heroes
ἈγανίππηAGANIPPE1 Daughter of Termessos god of the river that flows around Helicon (Pausan 9 29 5 2) and so a Naiad the eponym
of the spring that flows out near the grove of the Muses on Mt Helicon in Boeotia later identified with the fountain
Hippocrene perhaps made to flow by the hoof of the winged horse Pegasos (Verg Eclog 10 12 Ovid Metam 5
262-263 Pausan 9 31 3-4) 2 As an alternative to Eurydike 2 (Schol ad Apollon Rhod 4 1091) she would be the
wife of Acrisius the mother of Danae and grandmother of Perseus Hygin Fab 63 3 A daughter of Aigyptos sacrificed
on the altar of the apotropaic gods in the late account of Ps Plut de fluviis 16 1 4 There exists a late masculine
form Ἀγάνιππος Trojan warrior killed by Ajax along with many companions in a non-Homeric tradition (Quint Smyrn
Posthom 3 227-231)
A compound of the adjective ἀγανός sweet soft and ἵππος mare it could mean tame mare
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ἈγαπήνωρAGAPENORSon of Ankaios and Io leader of the Arcadian contingent who came to the Trojan War from Tegea (Hom Il 2 609 ss)
The name is a compound of the verb ἀγαπάω to love and ἀνήρ man it could mean one who loves men or one
who loves manly courage Cf other personal names such as Ἀντ- ήνωρ Βι- ήνωρ Ἐλεφ- ήνωρ Πεισ- ήνωρ where
the nominal part of the compound seems to be particularly ἀνήρ while for Ὑπερ- ήνωρ the predominant sense is
apparently that of ἠνορέη manly courage which is also found in numerous adjectival compounds
Category Names of heroes
ἈγασθένηςAGASTHENESSon of Augeias brother of Phyleus and father of Polyxeinos who was commander of ten of the 40 ships in the contingent
sent from Elis (Hom Il 2 615-624) and who also appears in the catalog of the suitors of Helen Polyxeinos would
return safe and sound from Troy and would father a son by the name of Amphimachos 3 (Pausan 5 3 4)
9
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
A name easily interpreted it is a compound of the intensive prefix ἀγα- and -σθένος strength very productive in
Greek personal names and so means endowed with great strength (von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 31 a
2 p 89) cf Demosthenes Eurysthenes Megasthenes etc
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάστροφοςAGASTROPHOSIn Homer a Trojan warrior the son of Paion killed by Diomedes by a blow of a spear to the buttocks while fighting
in the front lines on foot after having foolishly separated himself from his chariot and his charioteer (Hom Il 11
338-342 368 Diomedes was struck on the foot by a arrow while trying to strip him of his armor 11 373 cfr Scholia
ad l Eustath 320712 ad l Etym Gudianum 235 15 s v Ἠγαθέη in a compound with ἀγα-)
Wathelet (Dictionnaire des Troyens n 5 pp 148-149) attempts to link this personal name and the military event in
which he is involved ineffectually It may mean des sehr Wendige that is very nimble in movement (von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 22 a 1 p 71) cfr Epistrophos impetuous in attack) so one who turns aggressively
against the enemy from the prefix ἀγα- active in many compounds and the verb στρέφω rotate turn spin
around Less probable (but possible) is he who knows how to turn a chariot in excellent fashion
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάθωνAGATHONSon of Priam cited only once in the last book of Hom Il 24 with the epithet δῖος ldquoillustriousrdquo with eight of his
brothers and half-brothers he was reproached by his elderly father who impatiently waited to have his chariot prepared
so that he could go to reclaim the body of Hector
A simple formation with the suffix -ων from the adjective ἀγαθός goodly capable with recessive accent
Mycenaean recognizes a genitive a-ka-ta-jo-jo (PY En 659) which can be rendered as Ἀγαθαῖος (but also as Ἀκταῖος)
It does not seem necessary to consider it a hypocorism for Agathocles or Agathodoros (Wathelet Dictionnaire des
Troyens I p 147) the name is in any case very common in Greek and it is one of the many examples of entirely
Greek personal names in the Trojan camp
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαυήAGAVEDaughter of Kadmos and of Harmonia mother of Pentheus (Hes Theog 975 ss Eurip Bacch passim) sister of Semele
Ino and Autonoe Another Agave less well-known appears among the Nereids (Hom Il 18 42)
10
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from ἀγαυός admirable noble illustrious an adjective related to the verb ἄγαmicroαι to admire
marvel at (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγαυός)
ἈγέλαοςAGELAOSA rather popular name in Homer we find 1 a Greek officer who was killed along with eight other commanders
(ἡγεmicroόνες) by Hektor in Hom Il 11 301-304 2 a Trojan warrior son of Phradmon the first to have been killed by
Diomedes who after having crossed the ditch with his horses stabbed him with a javelin between his shoulders forcing
it through his chest and making him fall from his chariot in his armor (Hom Il 8 253-260) 3 a slave of Priam who was
charged by the king with exposing Paris on mount Ida but shortly afterwards he was moved by pity and raised the baby
as his own Apollod Bibl 3 12 5 (149-150) 4 one of the suitors of Penelope son of Damastor who tried to convince
Telemachos to agree to allow him to marry his mother (Hom Od 20 321 ss) He urged on Melanthius and other to exit
the hall and raise the alarm during the slaughter of the suitors (Od 22 131 136 212) and was killed by Odysseus with
a spear-blow (Od 22 292-293) 5 son of Herakles and of Omphale ancestor of the kings of Lydia Apollod Bibl 2 7
8 (165) 6 son of Oineus king of Calydon and brother of Meleagros Antonin Lib Metam 2
A compound of the verb ἄγω ldquoto guide leadrdquo and of the substantive λαός ldquopeople in armsrdquo analogous to Agenor
it is perhaps already attested in the Mycenaean a-ke-ra-wo KN Vc 316 (also read Ἀρχέλαος) where there exists also
the nomen agentis ra-wa-ke-ta (PY Un 718 9 etc) usually interpreted as λαϜ-αγέτας ldquoleader of armed troopsrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈγήνωρAGENOR1 Son of Poseidon and Libya and father of Europa Kadmos Phoinix and Cilix (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4 3 1) and
descendant of Argive Io 2 Among other characters with this name there is a Trojan hero son of Antenor frequently
mentioned in the Iliad (21 544-599 e passim)
The name means ldquohe who leads the men valiantrdquo as it is a compound of ἄγω ldquoto leadrdquo and of ἀνήρ man By
contrast Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 32) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 99) maintain that
the first part of the name is the intensive prefix ἀγα- and that the name means ldquoextremely manly courageousrdquo The
first interpretation seems preferable by far because compounds in ἀγα- are most often formed from verbs (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens de lIliade p 154)
Category Names of heroes
ἈγλαίαAGLAIAName of one of the Graces or Charites (Hes Theog 69 907 ss)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It is derived from the adjective ἀγλαός illustrious shining and means she who displays radiance beauty
Category Names of gods
ἌγριοςAGRIOS1 A giant who was killed along with Thoas by the Moirai in the Gigantomachy when these two sons of Gaia fought
against the gods (Apollod Bibl 1 6 2) 2 Son of Portheus and brother of Oineus (king of Calydon in Aitolia grandfather
of Diomedes) and of Melas with whom he lived in Pleuron (Hom Il 14 116-118) He had six children including
Thersites who deposed Oineus in favor of their own father before departing for the Trojan War (Apollod Bibl 1 8 68)
According to Hyginus after the fall of the city Diomedes learned that his grandfather had been deposed and ousted
Agrios who committed suicide because of it (Hygin Fab 175 242 and Antonin Lib Metam 37 1) 3 Centaur that
Heracles drove off by throwing red-hot coals at him when he drawn by the smell of wine rushed to the wine-jar of
Pholos which had been opened during the heros fourth labor when he was passing through Arcadia (Apollod Bibl 2 5
4) 4 Brother of Oreios he was a Thracian giant born of Polyphonte and a bear he and his brother would haul strangers
off and devour them He was transformed by the gods into a vulture to punish him for his cruel bestiality (Antonin Lib
Metam 21) 5 Son of Circe and Odysseus brother of Latinos and of Telegonos (Hes Theog 1011-1014)
Derived directly from the adjective ἄγριος uncultivated or not domesticated even savage violent Von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 4 b 1 p 14 compares it to the compound Μελέαγρος not coincidentally his nephew
Since the countryside as an uncultivated area is normally fitting for activity connected to hunting one could easily
explain that the term ἄγριος could mean either ldquohe who nurtures the landrdquo (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγρός) or ldquohe
who hunts in an uncultivated areardquo
Category Names of heroes
ἌγρωνAGRONName of an inhabitant of the island of Cos who along with his sisters Byssa and Meropis worshiped only the Earth and
insulted the other gods who in revenge transformed him into a plover (Anton Lib Met 15 from Boios Ornithogonia)
It possibly derives from ἀγρός field land and means something like lover of fields man of the country
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Transformation
ΑἴαςAIAS (AJAX)Name of two Homeric heroes 1 the son of Oileus of Locris (Hom Il 13 46 23 754) 2 the son of Telamon king
of Salamis (Hom Il 2 553 7 183) he killed himself by falling on his sword cf Sophocles tragedy Aias which is
dedicated to him
Various theories have been proposed as to how to interpret this name 1) already in antiquity it was connected to
αἰετός eagle (Hes Fr 250 = Schol ad Pind Isth 6 53 Apollod Bibl 3 12 7) a complete invention 2) it could be
related to αἶα land (Chantraine DELG von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 168 Van der Valk in Snell Lex
12
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
fr Ep col 232) and would mean man of the earth or the descendant of Aia 3) already attested in Mycenaean ai-
wa (Kn Np 973) perhaps as a bovine name it could be interpreted as a hypocorism of Αἴολος alive from the Indo-
European aiu+unt- he who has dynamic strength vigorous (Muumlhlestein Studi Micenei 2 1967 pp 41-52 Carnoy
DEMGR and von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 368)
Category Names of heroes
ἈλέκτωρALEKTORName of different figures including 1) the son of Anaxagoras (Apollod Bibl 3 6 2) 2) the son of Epeios (Diod Sic
4 69) 3) the son of Argeios grandson of Pelops he is the father of Iphiloche or Echemela (Schol ad Hom Od 4 10)
whom Menelaos gave in matrimony to Megapenthes 4) the father of the Argonaut Leitos (Apollod Bibl 1 9 16)
Already attested in Mycenaean a-re-ko-to-re (KN Ce 1521) it is a nomen agentis in -τωρ from the verb ἀλέκω ldquoto
defend repelrdquo and thus means ldquothe defenderrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈλεκτρύωνALEKTRYONName of the sentry assigned by Ares to inform him about the approach of day while the god was occupied in his affair
with Aphrodite (Eustath ad Hom 1598 61) it is obviously an allusion to the cock-crow
It is attested in Mycenaean in the form A-re-ku-tu-ru-wo (PY An 6548) It means ldquoroosterrdquo and is formed from ἀλέκτωρ
ldquodefenderrdquo since it refers to a combative animal (Chantraine DELG s v ἀλέξω) Ruijgh (Minos 9 1968 p 153)
prefers to interpret it instead as a derivative of ἄλεκτρον a defensive implement
ἈλήτηςALETESSon of Hippotes descendant of Herakles born during the return of the Herakleidai (Pausan 2 4 4 5 18 8)
It means wanderer vagabond and is the nomen agentis of the verb ἀλάοmicroαι to wander (Chantraine DELG s v
ἀλάοmicroαι)
Category Names of heroes
ἈφροδίτηAPHRODITEGoddess of love (Hom Il 5 820 and passim Hymn Hom ad Ven Hes Theog 190 ff) born of the foam of the sea
and the genitals of Ouranos or according to another tradition of Zeus and Dione
She is a goddess of Near Eastern origin and later there arises a folk etymology that interprets the name as coming from
ἀφρός foam (Plat Crat 406 c) οὕνεκ ἐν ἀφρῷ θρέφθη (Hes Theog 197-198) The theory of Grimme (Glotta 14
1925 p 18) who proposes an association with the Semitic goddess of fertility Astoret has not been proven nor has
that of Hammarstroumlm (Glotta 11 1921 pp 214 ff) who compares this name with the pre-Indo-European πρύτανις
13
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Etruscan (e)pr ni this latter hypothesis is also maintained by Carnoy (DEMGR) but with the help of Pelasgian phonology
according to which p would become ph
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ἈθήνηATHENAA goddess daughter of Zeus and Metis born from the head of the god (Hes Theog 886 ss)
This name is already attested in Mycenaean in the form of a-ta-na-po-ti-ni-ja (KN V 521 52 bis) and is difficult to
explain Carnoy (DEMGR) supports the Pelasgic hypothesis of Van Windekens (Le Peacutelasgique pp 40-41) according to
whom the initial Ath- is a Pelasgic form of the Indo-European at-no Sanskrit atta mother with the change t gt th
but Athena does not have maternal characteristics in the historical period It is possible that it is a pre-Hellenic name
(cfr van der Valk in Snell Lex fr Ep col 208)
Category Names of gods
ΒαῖοςBAIOS or BAEUSHelmsman of Odysseus whose name was supposedly given to various places for instance a mountain on the island of
Cephalonia and the town of Baia in Campania (Strab 1 p 26 5 p 245 Lycophr Alex 694) The name only occurs in
the post-classical period and does not appear in the Homeric poems
The name apparently derives from βαιός short unimportant with the recessive accent often found with
anthroponyms
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΒαλίοςBALIOS or BALIUSOne of the two immortal horses of Achilles (Xanthus) son of Zephyrus and the Harpy Podarge who was given to Peleus
by Poseidon perhaps on the occasion of Peleusrsquo wedding to Thetis The third horse of Achilles team was Pedasus who
was killed in battle 2 The horse of Celmis (or Schelmis) beaten in a race by the mare of Erechtheus named Podarce
(Nonn Dionys 37 334-337) 3 One of the dogs of Actaeon in Apollod Bibl 33 4 4
With a recessive accent Baliacuteos is simply derived from βαλιός speckled spotted
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασίλειαBASILEIAEldest daughter of Uranus and Titaia who distinguished herself from her sisters through her wisdom and intelligence she
married her brother Hyperion and gave birth to Selene and Helios (Diod Sic 3 57 who reports a non-Greek tradition)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means queen ending in the suffix -y - Its origin is probably as a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v
βασιλεύς) from Mycenean qa-si-re-u
Category Names of gods
ΒασιλίσκοςBASILISKA serpent of small size no more than twelve inches long (about a handrsquos length) marked by a white spot on the head
is also distinguished from other snakes by traveling upright rather than slithering (erectus in medio incedens Plin
Nat Hist 8 33 78 Aelian Hist anim 2 5)One is tempted to identify it with the cobra Lucan (Bell Civ 724-26)
mentioned its death-bringing hiss including it in his comprehensive catalogue of snakes to which Dante alludes in the
Circle of Hell dedicated to thieves (Inf 24 85 ff) Not only its touch but its breath is destructive wherever it appears
(exurit herbas rumpit saxa) Its venom can pass through objects if it is true that one time as Pliny says a rider and
his horse were destroyed by poison traveling up the long spear used for killing the serpent cf also Aelian Nat anim 2
5 The power of its gaze is terrible anyone who meets it dies The only way to look upon it is ithrough the reflection of
a mirror just as Perseus had done with Medusa from whose blood all the reptiles of Libya arose (Lucan Bell Civ 696
ff) Alexander the Great during his campaign in India to defeat the horrible creature (cf Leo Neapol Hist de prelis
Alex Magni rec I 3 p 320 sec X) used the stratagem of putting mirrors on the shields of his soldiers The basiliskrsquos
mortal enemies are the weasel and the cock the first kills him with its own smell (Plin Nat hist 8 33 79) the
second protected travelers who passed through Libya (Aelian Nat anim 3 31) In Late Antique and Medieval bestiaries
its nature is linked to that of its enemy the cock it too can go on all fours or can assume plumage while keeping a
reptilian tail thus arose the basilgallo (basilicock in Chaucer) In the Middle Ages it had a negative connotation at
times relating it to the Devil (or Antichrist) to the sinner or heresy To St Antony of Padua (Sermoni) it represented
wrath Cecco dAscoli who was burned at the stake in 1327 on the charge of sorcery records that the basilisk is the
Lord of serpents (Acerba 30) The preconception has biblical roots Isaiah (59 5) mentions a poisonous reptile the
Hebrew tsepha that in the translation of the Septuagint became βασιλίσκος and in the Vulgate basiliscus It likewise
occurs in Jeremiah 8 17 and in Psalms 91 13 Modern translations more cautiously prefers asp viper serpent
The etymology is simple βασιλίσκος diminutive of βασιλεύς (a word already attested in Mycenaean qa-si-re-u)
means little king lat basiliscus and regulus designating the king of the serpents due to its terrible powers in
spite of its small size
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασσάραBASSARAName of a Thracian Bacchant (Athen 5 7 p 198)
15
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means fox but also suggests the clothing of the Thracian bacchants which were made from fox pelts it
is a term derived from a loan word perhaps linked to the cult of Dionysus (Chantraine DELG s v) cf the verb ἀνα-
βασσαρέω Anacr fr 11 6 (356) PMG to revel Braccini T Glotta 86 2010 pp 7-21
ΒάτωνBATONA Theban the relative and charioteer of Amphiaraus He was swallowed up along with him into a chasm that opened
in the earth in front of Thebes (Pausan 2 23 2 5 17 8 10 10 3)
The name may come from βάτος bramble and may mean bramble or one who inhabits the bramble
Category Names of heroes
ΒάττοςBATTUSThe name of an old man transformed into a rock by Hermes because he did not keep secret the theft of Apollos cattle
(Anton Lib Met 23) A more widely known character with this name is the founder of Cyrene the son of Polymnestus
and Phronima (Herodot 4 145 ff Callim Hymn 2 65 Pausan 3 14 3 10 15 6-7)
The name belongs to the family of the verb βατταρίζω to stutter and means the stutterer they are onomatopoetic
terms According to Herodotus (4 145 ff) it could signify king in Libyan Masson (Glotta 54 1976 pp 84-98) favors
the first interpretation since the words of Herodotus are general and we lack information on South-Eastern Libyan
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΒαυβώBAUBOEleusinian wife of Dysaules received Demeter into her home and tried to cheer her up by lifting her dress and exposing
herself to Demeter (Clem Alex Protr 2 21)
The name is derived from the colloquial verb βαυβάω to sleep but also took on the meaning of female sex A less
acceptable suggestion of Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 73) is a derivation from βαΰζω to murmur or from
πραΰνω to soothe which according to him are applicable to a governess
Category Female names
ΒαῦκιςBAUCISA Phrygian woman who together with her husband Philemon welcomed Zeus and Hermes they sent a flood upon all
the other villagers who had not welcomed them but transformed these two into trees and their hut into a temple
(Ovid Met 8 616-715)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from βαυκός soft tender a folk word of uncertain etymology (Chantraine DELG) Room (Rooms
Classical Dictionary p 73) believes that it may have the same source as Baubo and in particular may be explained in
connection with πραΰνω to calm but such hypotheses are groundless
Category Female names
Theme Transformation
ΒελλεροφόντηςBELLEROPHONSon of Poseidon and the daughter of the king of Megara Iobates after he received a request from Proteus to kill the
hero commanded Bellerophon to slay the Chimera believing that this could not be done then sent him against the
Solymi the Amazons and Lydians until he recognized his divine nature (Hom Il 6 155-205 216-26)
Already in antiquity the name was interpreted as slayer of Belleros from the verb θείνω to slay that often appears
in the second part of compounds in the form -φόντης According to Kretschmer (Glotta 24 1936 pp 237-38 e 273
31 1951 pp 92 ff) this is an acceptable interpretation considering that Belleros is the name of a local demon On the
other hand Malten (Hermes 79 1944 pp 10 ff) views as a conjecture derived from popular imagination According
to Chantraine (DELG) supported also by Carnoy (DEMGR) Heubecks suggestion (Beitr Namenf 5 1954 pp 25-28)
that the name means full of strength being a compound of an Indo-European derivative bel- strength and ghwen
to swell up with cannot be proven
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΒῆλοςBELOSThe name of one of the two twin sons of the nymph Libya and Poseidon (the other was called Agenor) grandsons of
Epaphus (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4)
The name derives from the Semitic name of the god Baal Bel (Bernhard in Roscher Myth Lex I col 778)
Category Names of heroes
ΒιάνωρBIANORSon of the Tiber and the nymph Manto he founded the city of Mantua (Serv ad Verg Ecl 9 60)
This name is a compound of βιάω to tame to defeat and of ἀνήρ man and thus means he who forcefully tames
heroes Alternatively Pape- Benseler (WGE) translate it as a hard cruel violent man
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΒιήνωρBIENORTrojan captain with a Greek name called ποιmicroὴν λαῶν shepherd of people mentioned only once in Hom Il 11
92-93 when he was killed and stripped of his arms by Agamemnon together with his companion in arms and charioteer
Oileus
With the verbal sense of βια- it means ldquohe who with force dominates the enemy herordquo cf Bianor (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens I p 372-374) Elephenor Elpenor
Category Names of heroes
ΒορέαςBOREASGod of the North Wind the son of Eos and Astraeus brother of Zephyrus and Notus (Hes Theog 378)
One theory is that it means wind from the mountain related to Sanskrit giriacute- Avestan gairi- and ancient Slavic gora
mountain (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of gods
ΒῶροςBOROSBORUS1 Mentioned in Homer as the father of Phaestus Hom Il 5 44 he lived in Tarne Maeonia in the region of Smyrna
2 Another Borus in Homer (Il 16 177-178) son of Perieres was married to Polydora in Phthia Thessaly Polydora the
daughter of Peleus and Antigone 2 (Apollod Bibl 3 13 1) had a son Menesthius actually fathered by the river god
Spercheus (Il 16 173-176) 3 Son of Penthilus a descendant of Nestor grandson of Periclymenus had a son named
Andropompus who was the father of Melanthus who was expelled by the Hereclidae (Pausan 2 18 8)
The name probably is not Greek hence it is pointless to search for an explanation (as Pape-Benseler have done s v) by
resorting to the Hesychian gloss Βωροί ὀφθαλmicroοί eyes (Frisk GEW s v) Possibly related to the Βωρεῖς the name
of a tribe in Cyzicus (von Kamptz Homerische Personenn sect 81 pp 322)
Category Names of heroes
ΒουφάγοςBOUPHAGUSArcadian hero son of Iapetos and of Thornax killed by Artemis while chasing her on Mt Pholoe (Pausan 8 14 9 27 17)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of βοῦς ldquooxrdquo and the aorist φαγεῖν of the verb ἐσθίω ldquoto eatrdquo it therefore means ldquoeater
of oxenrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ΒούτηςBOUTESBUTESName of various people including 1 A son of Boreas father of Hippodamia (Diod Sic 4 70) who tried to kill his
half-brother Licurgus and once discovered fled from Thessaly to Naxos where he became a pirate (Diod Sic 5 50)
2 Another was the son of the king of Athens Pandion and Zeuxippe (Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) brother of Procne and
Philomela founder of the hereditary priesthood of the Athenian Eteobutadai 3 A third son of Teleon participated
in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 4 912-19) He was the only one who threw himself into the sea
after he heard the song of the Sirens overwhelmed by the song of Orpheus He was saved by Aphrodite and afterwards
founded the colony of Lilybaeum near Eryx on Sicily
Derived from βούς cow and simply means cowherd
Category Names of heroes
ΒουζύγηςBOUZYGESA mythical character to whom the invention of the yoke is attributed (Serv ad Verg Georg 1 19 Hesych s v)
The name is a simple compound of βούς cow and the verb ζεύγνυmicroι to join and therefore means yoker of cows
Category Names of heroes
ΒράγχοςBRANCHUSSon of Smycrus a hero orginally from Delphi but who settled in Miletus before his birth his mother had a vision of the
sun descending into her mouth passing through her body and out of her vulva He was beloved by Apollo who gave
him the gift of prophecy (Conon Narr 33)
The name derives from the adjective βραγχός hoarse a technical term whose etymology is not clear one could
perhaps compare old Irish brong(a)ide hoarseness (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ΒρέmicroουσαBREMUSAAccording to a late poem (IV cent CE) she is one of the 12 Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy Quint
Smyrn Posthom 1 43 she is killed by Idomeneus with a stroke of his spear to her right breast
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
20
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
21
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
22
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
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The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
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It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
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Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
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Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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ἈβίαABIAThe elderly nurse of Glenos the son of Heracles after the defeat of the Dorians led by the Heraclid Hyllus at the hands
of the Achaeans she retreated into Messenia to the city of Ira (perhaps one of the cities promised by Agamemnon to
Achilles) which the Heraclid Cresphontes renamed Abia after her (Pausan 4 30 1)
It does not seem that this name is related to the legendary people the Abioi (q v) It may nevertheless mean belonging
to the people of the Abioi
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ἌβιοιABIIA legendary people named at Homer Il 13 6 after the Hippemolgoi the Thracians and Mysians whom he gives the
epithet the most just of all men Zeus directed his gaze toward these peoples when he turned away from the events of
Troy They were identified by the ancients with the nomadic Scythians from whom even the wise Anacharsis may have
descended (Schol Hom Il ad loc) Elsewhere they are identified with the Thracian peoples perhaps to be equated
with the people that Aeschylus calls the Gabii in a fragment from Prom lib cited at Steph Byz s v (Aesch Fr 196
N = 329 M) Strabo drawing from Posidonius discusses these peoples at great length at 7 3 2-4
All of the various etymologies proposed by the ancients seem hypothetical running from long-lived (βίος) to experts
with the bow (βιός bow) or otherwise those who do not use bows in the last case the ἀ is interpreted as privative
and not epitactic (ie intensive) Alternatively it came to be interpreted as non-violent ἀ- βιαίοι (Schol ad Il 13
6 Etymol Magn s v)
Category Names of populations
ἌβληροςABLEROSTrojan warrior killed with a spear by Antilochos son of Nestor during a fierce battle fought between the Xanthos and
Simois rivers (Hom Il 6 32-33) There is no other notice of him
The scholion ad loc supposes an ἀ- that is perhaps privative and an unattested βλῶ βλήσω adj βληρός that is
difficult to interpret even the gloss in Hesychius ἀβληράmiddot ἡνία reins does not help much and still less recourse
to βλῆρ decoy trap snare (Wathelet Dictionn des Troyennes p 144 is also skeptical) Thus the personal name
remains unexplained
Category Names of heroes
ἈκακαλλίςACACALLISThis was the name of one of the daughters of Minos loved by Hermes and by Apollo who was the mother of Miletus
(Nicandr ap Anton Lib Metam 30 1) the young man with whom Minos fell madly in love Others say that she gave
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birth by Hermes to Cydon (Pausan 8 53 4) or always by Apollo to the Cretan twins Phylakides and Philander who
were nursed by a she-goat (Pausan 10 16 5)
The name refers to the tamarisk according to Dioscor 1 89 or the narcissus cf Hesych s v and is probably of
Egyptian origin (Chantraine DELG)
Theme Transformation
ἈκαλανθίςACALANTISDaughter of King Pierus of Macedonia With her eight sisters she dared compete with the Muses in song and for this
they were transformed into birds Acalantis become a goldfinch (Anton Lib Metam 9)
The name means precisely goldfinch (DArcy Thompson A Glossary of Greek Birds pp 30 ss) and derives from
ἄκανθα which refers to various spiny plants like the thistle with metathesis from ἀκανθαλίς
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Transformation
ἈκάmicroαςACAMAS1 Thracian leader counted among the bravest an ally of the Trojans and co-commander with Peiroos (Hom Il 2
844-845 5 462-469) He was son of Eussoros and was killed by Ajax with a blow from his spear through the forehead
(Hom Il 6 7-10) 2 Son of Antenor and brother of Archelochos (Hom Il 2 822-823 11 60) he together with his
brother and Aeneias led the fourth contingent of Trojan soldiers (Hom Il 12 98-100) He prevailed in a confrontation
with Promachos avenging his brothers death and after warding off the attack of Peneleos (Hom Il 14 476-489)
died when he was shot in his right shoulder by Meriones while getting back into his chariot (Hom Il 16 342-344) 3
Son of Theseus and of Phaidra brother of Demophon (Diod Bibl 4 62) he became the object of Laodices desire and
had a son by her Munitos (Parth Narr amat 16) who was raised by Aithra during his return from Troy he landed in
Thrace where Phyllis too fell in love with him (Apollod Epit 6 16) on Cyprus he founded a colony and died when
he fell off a horse onto his sword (Tzetz ad Lycophr 494)
A Greek name it is an alpha-privative compound that is precisely the same form as the adjective ἀκάmicroας with a
privative prefix ἀ- and root καmicroα- to be derived from κάmicroνω work hard suffer intended here in the passive sense it
means the indefatigable For a similar formation cf Adamas Wathelet Dictionnaire des Troyens n 17 pp 242-249
von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 63 a p 166 Room Roomrsquos Classical Dictionary s v p 20)
Category Names of heroes
ἌκαστοςACASTUSSon of the king of Iolchus Pelias and of Anaxibia participated in the expedition of the Argonauts and in the hunt for
the boar of Calydon (Apollod Bibl 1910 916 927 3133 137-8)
It could be a compound of the verb κέκασmicroαι to excel shine and of ἀ- privative it would therefore mean he
who does not shine rightly Carnoy (DEMGR) points out that such a name would not be very fitting for a hero for
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which reason it is better to take the ἀ- as an intensifier and to understand the name as he who shines much the
splendid (cf anche von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 151 and Scholz in Snell Lex fr Ep col 406) The
feminine form Acasta (Ἀκάστη) is also attested the name of an Oceanid (Hes Theog 356)
Ἀκεσ(σ)αmicroενόςACESSAMENOSFather of Periboia 3 grandfather of Pelagon is mentioned only one time in Hom Il 21 143-144
Participial formation from the verb ἀκέοmicroαι cf the aorist ἠκεσάmicroην (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect 62 a b
p 164 cfr Iamenos Ialmenos Ormenos) it could mean he who is healed (less likely in the middle sense he who
has healed an illness Pape - Benseler s v heilbringer) According to Wathelet Dictionnaire des Troyens n 19 pp
250-251) it could be of non-Greek origin perhaps Macedonian connected with the city of Ἀκεσ(σ)αmicroεναί which
according to Steph Byz Ethn s v Ἀκεσαmicroεναί was founded precisely by our hero For the accentuation cf Schol
Hom ad loc ὀξυτονητέον τὸ Ἀκεσσαmicroενός ἵνα ὄνοmicroα γένηται as with Dexamenoacutes and Tisamenoacutes
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ἈχάτηςACHATES1 The name of a Trojan who accompanied Aeneas to Italy (Verg Aen 1120) 2 and of a Tyrrhenian companion of
Dionysus (Nonn Dion 13 309 37 350)
The name means agate (chalcedony quartz) and is probably a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v)
Category Names of heroes
ἈχέρωνACHERONCharacter who is supposed to have fathered Ascalaphos by a nymph of the underworld () by the name of Gorgyra
(Apollod 1 33 [= 1 5 3]) or elsewhere Orphne (Ovid Metam 5 539-541 in Greek there exists the adjective orphnoacutes
dark but not as a proper name so it is possible that it is an Ovidian invention) It is apparently the late creation of a
character to create an eponym for the name of the river even if the son that came to be attributed to him seems tied
to stories in the Demeter myth that look traditional enough The evidence (followed by Natalis Comes Mythologiae
III p 97) that makes him the son of Ceres and perhaps of a king of Sicily named Sicanus delivered by the goddess in
secret in a cave on Crete does not appear before Boccaccio Genealog deorum gentilium 3 4 1 who cites sources
that are highly dubious such as Theodontius and Pronapis and does not seem reliable
The Greek etymologies of the name of the river already known to Homer (Od 11 513 hapax it is identified with
many rivers the most famous of which still bears the name today and empties into the sea near Parga in Epeiros where
there also sat an oracle of the dead Νεκυοmicroαντεῖον cf Herodot 5 92 η) from ἀ- privative and χαίρειν because
those who go down there do not experience joy or elsewhere from ἄχεα ῥέων pouring forth sorrows (Etym M 180
46-57 s v) are evidently folk etymologies The same can be said for the meaning pale faded Bleichach (Pape and
Benseler GEW already in Plutarch de primo frig 948 E ἄχρωστος colorless) However even the comparisons with
Old Pers assaran or OCS jezero to reconstruct an ancient form ἀχεροντ- that would mean lake marsh (Chantraine
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DELG s v) do not seem very convincing Less suspect might be its connection to the adjective ἀχερωίς river of white
poplar trees (Carnoy DEMGR s v) But the etymology remains uncertain
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ἈχιλλεύςACHILLESName of the son of Peleus and Thetis father of Pyrrhus Neoptolemus (Hom Il passim)
Already in Mycenaean in the form a-ki-re-u (KN Vc 106) The etymology is not clear but different hypotheses have been
made 1) According to Apollodorus (Bibl 3136 Schol ad Lycophr 178 etc) the hero was so named by Chiron his lips
had never tasted the milk of Thetis and so the name would be from ἀ- privative and χείλη lip 2) It could be a pre-
Hellenic name (Bosshardt Die Nomina auf -εύς par 444 and Nordheider in Snell Lex fr Ep col 1754) 3) It could be
from ἄχος pain through a form ἄχιλος as ὄργιλος derives from ὀργή (Kretschmer Glotta 4 1915 pp 305-308)
it could also be a hypochoristic of Ἀχι-λάος again from ἄχος but with λάος people (Palmer Interpretation p 79)
he whose people has pain Nagy (The Best of the Achaeans pp 69-71) agrees with this hypothesis considering such
a name to accord well with the heros fortunes Holland (Glotta 71 1993 pp 17-27) criticizes Nagys interpretation
on various grounds and prefers to take the first part of the name as a verb meaning frighten given the connection of
ἄχος with terms in other Indo-European languages meaning terror fear thus the name would mean he who frightens
the army 4) According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the figure is a water divinity his name deriving from Indo-European aqwa
through Pelasgic - a highly unlikely derivation
Category Names of heroes
ἈδάmicroαςADAMASTrojan warrior who participated in the assault on the Greeks wall at Troy while fighting alongside his father King
Asios 2 (hence the patronymic Ἀσιάδης) and a group of companions that included Iamenos an Orestes Thoon and
an Oinomaos (Hom Il 12 137-140) After his attempt to kill Antilochos unsuccessful thanks to the intervention of
Poseidon who rendered Adamas weapon harmless he was himself hit with a spear in the lower abdomen by the Cretan
Meriones ending his life (Hom Il 13 560-574) He was with other heroes searched for by Hector who learned of
his death from Paris (Hom Il 13 754-773)
A proper name derived from the common substantive ἀδάmicroας (Hes Theog 161 [Hes] Scut 137) steel it is a
compound of the privative prefix α- and of the root δάmicro- a participle in -ντ here in the passive sense The root is also
very productive in the active sense throughout Greek onomastics (cf Laodamas Iphidamas Chersidamas Eurydamas
Polydamas) It therefore means indomitable unbeatable (Wathelet Dictionnaire des Troyens n 9 pp 167-170) For
the meaning it is possible to compare Acamas indefatigable (Ἀκάmicroας from α- and κάmicroνω work hard suffer)
with whom Adamas is found with some frequency In its formation it is also related to compounds in -τλα (see Atlas
Von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 28 a 1 p 83 sect 63 a 1 p 166) Only in Latin is there also attested the
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feminine form Adamanteia (non-existent in Greek) a reading that was found in the first editions of Hyg Fab 139 but
which should obviously be corrected to Amalthea
Category Names of heroes
ἈδαmicroάστωρADAMASTORA huge monster as big as the Colossus of Rhodes that appeared to Vasco de Gama and the Portuguese fleet near the
Cape of Good Hope foretelling disaster Probably invented by Camotildees Lusiacuteadas 5 st 41-51 on classical models He is
referred to as the companion of Enceladus Aegaeon and of the other Giants who fought against the gods Interrogated
by the leader of the expedition he tells of his own unhappy love for the wife of Peleus Thetis who tricked him with an
apparition of herself for which he was transformed into the rock of the Cape of Good Hope (Lus st 52-60) This figure
is almost totally unknown to Greek and Roman mythology which refers to a giant Damastor (Claudian Gigant 101-103)
while one Adamasthor is listed among the other giants only in Sidon Apollin Carm 1520 (sec V- inizi VI dev)
The name is a nomen agentis formed with the suffix -τωρ from the verbal adjective ἀδαmicroαστός which means
unconquerable unconquered used frequently of young women who have not had sexual relations with a man (from
ἀ- privativo e δαmicro- δάmicroνηmicroι δαmicroάω) It seems to be constructed by analogy with Alagravestor Phobegravetor and would mean
that is unconquerable implacable The adjective ἀδαmicroάστωρ (v l ἀδαmicroάτωρ) is also found in Pap Mag IV 2717
in the sense of virgin said of Hecate
Category Names of gods
Theme Transformation
ἌδmicroητοςADMETUSKing of Pherai in Thessaly son of Pheretes husband of Alcestis (Apollod Bibl 1 8 2 9 16) He participated in the
Calydonian Boar Hunt and in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 1 49-50)
This name is derived from the verbal adjective of δάmicroνηmicroι conquer with privative ἀ- and so means unconquered
There is attested also the feminine Admeta (Ἀδmicroήτη) an Argive priestess daughter of Eurystheus (Pausan 8 4 4)
ἌδωνιςADONISBorn of Myrrharsquos incestuous love for her father Cinyras king of Cyprus His mother was transformed into the tree that
bears her name and the extraordinarily beautiful baby was raised by Aphrodite and Persephone he was killed by a
boar spurred on against him by Artemis (Apollod Bibl 3 14 4) In a local version based in Syria the father had the
name Theias (Ant Lib Metam 34 5)
This name is certainly a Semitic loan-word in Hebrew there is the word adon master lord (Chantraine DELG
Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v p 23)
Theme Incest
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ἌδραστοςADRASTOSName of the king of Argos that hosted Tydeus and Polyneices gave his daughters Argia and Deipyle to them as wives
and led them on the expedition against Thebes (Hom Il 2 572)
It could be that what we have is a verbal adjective of the verb δι-δράσκω flee with an ἀ privative- which would
mean he who does not try to flee (Chantraine DELG s v διδράσκω) if interpreted in the active sense or better
he to whom one cannot flee if it has a passive sense Wathelet (Dictionnaire des Troyens pp 170-171) however
maintains that it is difficult to justify the presence of σ since the root of δι-δράσκω is δρα- and not δρασ- it could
be foreign to Greek but it is a name firmly attested in Greece - see also the feminine Ἀδράστεια another name for
Nemesis (cf Aesch Prom 936) Perhaps then it is a pre-Hellenic name and the derivation from διδράσκω could be
owed to a folk etymology
Category Names of heroes
ἈγακλήςAGACLESFather of one of the Myrmidons who was king in the town of Budeion (perhaps in Thessaly or in Boeotia Eustath
Comm ad Il 16 570-574) he was succeeded by his son Epeigeus who went into exile for having killed a noble cousin
and was taken in as a guest by Peleus and Thetis in Phthia (Hom Il 16 570-571) but later perished at Troy at the
hands of Hector
A simple compound of the prefix ἀγα- and of κλέος it means extremely glorious of abundant glory cf Agathocles
Megacles Pericles
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαmicroήδηςAGAMEDESName of the architect the son of Stymphalos who with his sons Trophonios and Cercyon built many famous structures
in ancient Greece (Pausan 8 4 8 10 2)
The name is a compound of ἀγα- an intensive prefix and of the verb microήδοmicroαι to plan a project to have in mind and
means therefore one who thinks a lot Also attested in the feminine Agamede (Ἀγαmicroήδη in Hom Il 11 740-741)
daughter of Augeias and wife of Moulios a sorceress skilled in drugs and poisons
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαmicroέmicroνωνAGAMEMNONSon of Atreus brother of Menelaos husband of Clytaimnestra supreme commander of the Achaean army in the Trojan
War (Hom Il passim)
The name is a compound of ἀγα- an intensive prefix the second part of the compound presents some uncertainties It
has been hypothesized that it is based on -microέδmicroων a derivative of microέδοmicroαι to command (Carnoy DEMGR maintains
such a hypothesis) according to Kretschmer (Glotta 3 1912 p 330) this interpretation is not acceptable Hamp
8
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(Glotta 49 1971 pp 21-24) supports the hypothesis already asserted by Heubeck (Gedenkschrift Brandenstein pp
357-61) that it derives from Ἀγα-microέν-microων with metathesis of νmicro gt microν the name would then derive from microένω to
resist with an expressive form of reduplication and would mean one who resists with vigor Van der Valk (in Snell
Lex fr Ep col 34) on the basis of analogy interprets it as an extremely energetic man full of vigor
Category Names of heroes
ἈγανίππηAGANIPPE1 Daughter of Termessos god of the river that flows around Helicon (Pausan 9 29 5 2) and so a Naiad the eponym
of the spring that flows out near the grove of the Muses on Mt Helicon in Boeotia later identified with the fountain
Hippocrene perhaps made to flow by the hoof of the winged horse Pegasos (Verg Eclog 10 12 Ovid Metam 5
262-263 Pausan 9 31 3-4) 2 As an alternative to Eurydike 2 (Schol ad Apollon Rhod 4 1091) she would be the
wife of Acrisius the mother of Danae and grandmother of Perseus Hygin Fab 63 3 A daughter of Aigyptos sacrificed
on the altar of the apotropaic gods in the late account of Ps Plut de fluviis 16 1 4 There exists a late masculine
form Ἀγάνιππος Trojan warrior killed by Ajax along with many companions in a non-Homeric tradition (Quint Smyrn
Posthom 3 227-231)
A compound of the adjective ἀγανός sweet soft and ἵππος mare it could mean tame mare
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ἈγαπήνωρAGAPENORSon of Ankaios and Io leader of the Arcadian contingent who came to the Trojan War from Tegea (Hom Il 2 609 ss)
The name is a compound of the verb ἀγαπάω to love and ἀνήρ man it could mean one who loves men or one
who loves manly courage Cf other personal names such as Ἀντ- ήνωρ Βι- ήνωρ Ἐλεφ- ήνωρ Πεισ- ήνωρ where
the nominal part of the compound seems to be particularly ἀνήρ while for Ὑπερ- ήνωρ the predominant sense is
apparently that of ἠνορέη manly courage which is also found in numerous adjectival compounds
Category Names of heroes
ἈγασθένηςAGASTHENESSon of Augeias brother of Phyleus and father of Polyxeinos who was commander of ten of the 40 ships in the contingent
sent from Elis (Hom Il 2 615-624) and who also appears in the catalog of the suitors of Helen Polyxeinos would
return safe and sound from Troy and would father a son by the name of Amphimachos 3 (Pausan 5 3 4)
9
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
A name easily interpreted it is a compound of the intensive prefix ἀγα- and -σθένος strength very productive in
Greek personal names and so means endowed with great strength (von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 31 a
2 p 89) cf Demosthenes Eurysthenes Megasthenes etc
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάστροφοςAGASTROPHOSIn Homer a Trojan warrior the son of Paion killed by Diomedes by a blow of a spear to the buttocks while fighting
in the front lines on foot after having foolishly separated himself from his chariot and his charioteer (Hom Il 11
338-342 368 Diomedes was struck on the foot by a arrow while trying to strip him of his armor 11 373 cfr Scholia
ad l Eustath 320712 ad l Etym Gudianum 235 15 s v Ἠγαθέη in a compound with ἀγα-)
Wathelet (Dictionnaire des Troyens n 5 pp 148-149) attempts to link this personal name and the military event in
which he is involved ineffectually It may mean des sehr Wendige that is very nimble in movement (von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 22 a 1 p 71) cfr Epistrophos impetuous in attack) so one who turns aggressively
against the enemy from the prefix ἀγα- active in many compounds and the verb στρέφω rotate turn spin
around Less probable (but possible) is he who knows how to turn a chariot in excellent fashion
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάθωνAGATHONSon of Priam cited only once in the last book of Hom Il 24 with the epithet δῖος ldquoillustriousrdquo with eight of his
brothers and half-brothers he was reproached by his elderly father who impatiently waited to have his chariot prepared
so that he could go to reclaim the body of Hector
A simple formation with the suffix -ων from the adjective ἀγαθός goodly capable with recessive accent
Mycenaean recognizes a genitive a-ka-ta-jo-jo (PY En 659) which can be rendered as Ἀγαθαῖος (but also as Ἀκταῖος)
It does not seem necessary to consider it a hypocorism for Agathocles or Agathodoros (Wathelet Dictionnaire des
Troyens I p 147) the name is in any case very common in Greek and it is one of the many examples of entirely
Greek personal names in the Trojan camp
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαυήAGAVEDaughter of Kadmos and of Harmonia mother of Pentheus (Hes Theog 975 ss Eurip Bacch passim) sister of Semele
Ino and Autonoe Another Agave less well-known appears among the Nereids (Hom Il 18 42)
10
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from ἀγαυός admirable noble illustrious an adjective related to the verb ἄγαmicroαι to admire
marvel at (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγαυός)
ἈγέλαοςAGELAOSA rather popular name in Homer we find 1 a Greek officer who was killed along with eight other commanders
(ἡγεmicroόνες) by Hektor in Hom Il 11 301-304 2 a Trojan warrior son of Phradmon the first to have been killed by
Diomedes who after having crossed the ditch with his horses stabbed him with a javelin between his shoulders forcing
it through his chest and making him fall from his chariot in his armor (Hom Il 8 253-260) 3 a slave of Priam who was
charged by the king with exposing Paris on mount Ida but shortly afterwards he was moved by pity and raised the baby
as his own Apollod Bibl 3 12 5 (149-150) 4 one of the suitors of Penelope son of Damastor who tried to convince
Telemachos to agree to allow him to marry his mother (Hom Od 20 321 ss) He urged on Melanthius and other to exit
the hall and raise the alarm during the slaughter of the suitors (Od 22 131 136 212) and was killed by Odysseus with
a spear-blow (Od 22 292-293) 5 son of Herakles and of Omphale ancestor of the kings of Lydia Apollod Bibl 2 7
8 (165) 6 son of Oineus king of Calydon and brother of Meleagros Antonin Lib Metam 2
A compound of the verb ἄγω ldquoto guide leadrdquo and of the substantive λαός ldquopeople in armsrdquo analogous to Agenor
it is perhaps already attested in the Mycenaean a-ke-ra-wo KN Vc 316 (also read Ἀρχέλαος) where there exists also
the nomen agentis ra-wa-ke-ta (PY Un 718 9 etc) usually interpreted as λαϜ-αγέτας ldquoleader of armed troopsrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈγήνωρAGENOR1 Son of Poseidon and Libya and father of Europa Kadmos Phoinix and Cilix (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4 3 1) and
descendant of Argive Io 2 Among other characters with this name there is a Trojan hero son of Antenor frequently
mentioned in the Iliad (21 544-599 e passim)
The name means ldquohe who leads the men valiantrdquo as it is a compound of ἄγω ldquoto leadrdquo and of ἀνήρ man By
contrast Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 32) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 99) maintain that
the first part of the name is the intensive prefix ἀγα- and that the name means ldquoextremely manly courageousrdquo The
first interpretation seems preferable by far because compounds in ἀγα- are most often formed from verbs (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens de lIliade p 154)
Category Names of heroes
ἈγλαίαAGLAIAName of one of the Graces or Charites (Hes Theog 69 907 ss)
11
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It is derived from the adjective ἀγλαός illustrious shining and means she who displays radiance beauty
Category Names of gods
ἌγριοςAGRIOS1 A giant who was killed along with Thoas by the Moirai in the Gigantomachy when these two sons of Gaia fought
against the gods (Apollod Bibl 1 6 2) 2 Son of Portheus and brother of Oineus (king of Calydon in Aitolia grandfather
of Diomedes) and of Melas with whom he lived in Pleuron (Hom Il 14 116-118) He had six children including
Thersites who deposed Oineus in favor of their own father before departing for the Trojan War (Apollod Bibl 1 8 68)
According to Hyginus after the fall of the city Diomedes learned that his grandfather had been deposed and ousted
Agrios who committed suicide because of it (Hygin Fab 175 242 and Antonin Lib Metam 37 1) 3 Centaur that
Heracles drove off by throwing red-hot coals at him when he drawn by the smell of wine rushed to the wine-jar of
Pholos which had been opened during the heros fourth labor when he was passing through Arcadia (Apollod Bibl 2 5
4) 4 Brother of Oreios he was a Thracian giant born of Polyphonte and a bear he and his brother would haul strangers
off and devour them He was transformed by the gods into a vulture to punish him for his cruel bestiality (Antonin Lib
Metam 21) 5 Son of Circe and Odysseus brother of Latinos and of Telegonos (Hes Theog 1011-1014)
Derived directly from the adjective ἄγριος uncultivated or not domesticated even savage violent Von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 4 b 1 p 14 compares it to the compound Μελέαγρος not coincidentally his nephew
Since the countryside as an uncultivated area is normally fitting for activity connected to hunting one could easily
explain that the term ἄγριος could mean either ldquohe who nurtures the landrdquo (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγρός) or ldquohe
who hunts in an uncultivated areardquo
Category Names of heroes
ἌγρωνAGRONName of an inhabitant of the island of Cos who along with his sisters Byssa and Meropis worshiped only the Earth and
insulted the other gods who in revenge transformed him into a plover (Anton Lib Met 15 from Boios Ornithogonia)
It possibly derives from ἀγρός field land and means something like lover of fields man of the country
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Transformation
ΑἴαςAIAS (AJAX)Name of two Homeric heroes 1 the son of Oileus of Locris (Hom Il 13 46 23 754) 2 the son of Telamon king
of Salamis (Hom Il 2 553 7 183) he killed himself by falling on his sword cf Sophocles tragedy Aias which is
dedicated to him
Various theories have been proposed as to how to interpret this name 1) already in antiquity it was connected to
αἰετός eagle (Hes Fr 250 = Schol ad Pind Isth 6 53 Apollod Bibl 3 12 7) a complete invention 2) it could be
related to αἶα land (Chantraine DELG von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 168 Van der Valk in Snell Lex
12
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
fr Ep col 232) and would mean man of the earth or the descendant of Aia 3) already attested in Mycenaean ai-
wa (Kn Np 973) perhaps as a bovine name it could be interpreted as a hypocorism of Αἴολος alive from the Indo-
European aiu+unt- he who has dynamic strength vigorous (Muumlhlestein Studi Micenei 2 1967 pp 41-52 Carnoy
DEMGR and von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 368)
Category Names of heroes
ἈλέκτωρALEKTORName of different figures including 1) the son of Anaxagoras (Apollod Bibl 3 6 2) 2) the son of Epeios (Diod Sic
4 69) 3) the son of Argeios grandson of Pelops he is the father of Iphiloche or Echemela (Schol ad Hom Od 4 10)
whom Menelaos gave in matrimony to Megapenthes 4) the father of the Argonaut Leitos (Apollod Bibl 1 9 16)
Already attested in Mycenaean a-re-ko-to-re (KN Ce 1521) it is a nomen agentis in -τωρ from the verb ἀλέκω ldquoto
defend repelrdquo and thus means ldquothe defenderrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈλεκτρύωνALEKTRYONName of the sentry assigned by Ares to inform him about the approach of day while the god was occupied in his affair
with Aphrodite (Eustath ad Hom 1598 61) it is obviously an allusion to the cock-crow
It is attested in Mycenaean in the form A-re-ku-tu-ru-wo (PY An 6548) It means ldquoroosterrdquo and is formed from ἀλέκτωρ
ldquodefenderrdquo since it refers to a combative animal (Chantraine DELG s v ἀλέξω) Ruijgh (Minos 9 1968 p 153)
prefers to interpret it instead as a derivative of ἄλεκτρον a defensive implement
ἈλήτηςALETESSon of Hippotes descendant of Herakles born during the return of the Herakleidai (Pausan 2 4 4 5 18 8)
It means wanderer vagabond and is the nomen agentis of the verb ἀλάοmicroαι to wander (Chantraine DELG s v
ἀλάοmicroαι)
Category Names of heroes
ἈφροδίτηAPHRODITEGoddess of love (Hom Il 5 820 and passim Hymn Hom ad Ven Hes Theog 190 ff) born of the foam of the sea
and the genitals of Ouranos or according to another tradition of Zeus and Dione
She is a goddess of Near Eastern origin and later there arises a folk etymology that interprets the name as coming from
ἀφρός foam (Plat Crat 406 c) οὕνεκ ἐν ἀφρῷ θρέφθη (Hes Theog 197-198) The theory of Grimme (Glotta 14
1925 p 18) who proposes an association with the Semitic goddess of fertility Astoret has not been proven nor has
that of Hammarstroumlm (Glotta 11 1921 pp 214 ff) who compares this name with the pre-Indo-European πρύτανις
13
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Etruscan (e)pr ni this latter hypothesis is also maintained by Carnoy (DEMGR) but with the help of Pelasgian phonology
according to which p would become ph
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ἈθήνηATHENAA goddess daughter of Zeus and Metis born from the head of the god (Hes Theog 886 ss)
This name is already attested in Mycenaean in the form of a-ta-na-po-ti-ni-ja (KN V 521 52 bis) and is difficult to
explain Carnoy (DEMGR) supports the Pelasgic hypothesis of Van Windekens (Le Peacutelasgique pp 40-41) according to
whom the initial Ath- is a Pelasgic form of the Indo-European at-no Sanskrit atta mother with the change t gt th
but Athena does not have maternal characteristics in the historical period It is possible that it is a pre-Hellenic name
(cfr van der Valk in Snell Lex fr Ep col 208)
Category Names of gods
ΒαῖοςBAIOS or BAEUSHelmsman of Odysseus whose name was supposedly given to various places for instance a mountain on the island of
Cephalonia and the town of Baia in Campania (Strab 1 p 26 5 p 245 Lycophr Alex 694) The name only occurs in
the post-classical period and does not appear in the Homeric poems
The name apparently derives from βαιός short unimportant with the recessive accent often found with
anthroponyms
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΒαλίοςBALIOS or BALIUSOne of the two immortal horses of Achilles (Xanthus) son of Zephyrus and the Harpy Podarge who was given to Peleus
by Poseidon perhaps on the occasion of Peleusrsquo wedding to Thetis The third horse of Achilles team was Pedasus who
was killed in battle 2 The horse of Celmis (or Schelmis) beaten in a race by the mare of Erechtheus named Podarce
(Nonn Dionys 37 334-337) 3 One of the dogs of Actaeon in Apollod Bibl 33 4 4
With a recessive accent Baliacuteos is simply derived from βαλιός speckled spotted
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασίλειαBASILEIAEldest daughter of Uranus and Titaia who distinguished herself from her sisters through her wisdom and intelligence she
married her brother Hyperion and gave birth to Selene and Helios (Diod Sic 3 57 who reports a non-Greek tradition)
14
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means queen ending in the suffix -y - Its origin is probably as a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v
βασιλεύς) from Mycenean qa-si-re-u
Category Names of gods
ΒασιλίσκοςBASILISKA serpent of small size no more than twelve inches long (about a handrsquos length) marked by a white spot on the head
is also distinguished from other snakes by traveling upright rather than slithering (erectus in medio incedens Plin
Nat Hist 8 33 78 Aelian Hist anim 2 5)One is tempted to identify it with the cobra Lucan (Bell Civ 724-26)
mentioned its death-bringing hiss including it in his comprehensive catalogue of snakes to which Dante alludes in the
Circle of Hell dedicated to thieves (Inf 24 85 ff) Not only its touch but its breath is destructive wherever it appears
(exurit herbas rumpit saxa) Its venom can pass through objects if it is true that one time as Pliny says a rider and
his horse were destroyed by poison traveling up the long spear used for killing the serpent cf also Aelian Nat anim 2
5 The power of its gaze is terrible anyone who meets it dies The only way to look upon it is ithrough the reflection of
a mirror just as Perseus had done with Medusa from whose blood all the reptiles of Libya arose (Lucan Bell Civ 696
ff) Alexander the Great during his campaign in India to defeat the horrible creature (cf Leo Neapol Hist de prelis
Alex Magni rec I 3 p 320 sec X) used the stratagem of putting mirrors on the shields of his soldiers The basiliskrsquos
mortal enemies are the weasel and the cock the first kills him with its own smell (Plin Nat hist 8 33 79) the
second protected travelers who passed through Libya (Aelian Nat anim 3 31) In Late Antique and Medieval bestiaries
its nature is linked to that of its enemy the cock it too can go on all fours or can assume plumage while keeping a
reptilian tail thus arose the basilgallo (basilicock in Chaucer) In the Middle Ages it had a negative connotation at
times relating it to the Devil (or Antichrist) to the sinner or heresy To St Antony of Padua (Sermoni) it represented
wrath Cecco dAscoli who was burned at the stake in 1327 on the charge of sorcery records that the basilisk is the
Lord of serpents (Acerba 30) The preconception has biblical roots Isaiah (59 5) mentions a poisonous reptile the
Hebrew tsepha that in the translation of the Septuagint became βασιλίσκος and in the Vulgate basiliscus It likewise
occurs in Jeremiah 8 17 and in Psalms 91 13 Modern translations more cautiously prefers asp viper serpent
The etymology is simple βασιλίσκος diminutive of βασιλεύς (a word already attested in Mycenaean qa-si-re-u)
means little king lat basiliscus and regulus designating the king of the serpents due to its terrible powers in
spite of its small size
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασσάραBASSARAName of a Thracian Bacchant (Athen 5 7 p 198)
15
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means fox but also suggests the clothing of the Thracian bacchants which were made from fox pelts it
is a term derived from a loan word perhaps linked to the cult of Dionysus (Chantraine DELG s v) cf the verb ἀνα-
βασσαρέω Anacr fr 11 6 (356) PMG to revel Braccini T Glotta 86 2010 pp 7-21
ΒάτωνBATONA Theban the relative and charioteer of Amphiaraus He was swallowed up along with him into a chasm that opened
in the earth in front of Thebes (Pausan 2 23 2 5 17 8 10 10 3)
The name may come from βάτος bramble and may mean bramble or one who inhabits the bramble
Category Names of heroes
ΒάττοςBATTUSThe name of an old man transformed into a rock by Hermes because he did not keep secret the theft of Apollos cattle
(Anton Lib Met 23) A more widely known character with this name is the founder of Cyrene the son of Polymnestus
and Phronima (Herodot 4 145 ff Callim Hymn 2 65 Pausan 3 14 3 10 15 6-7)
The name belongs to the family of the verb βατταρίζω to stutter and means the stutterer they are onomatopoetic
terms According to Herodotus (4 145 ff) it could signify king in Libyan Masson (Glotta 54 1976 pp 84-98) favors
the first interpretation since the words of Herodotus are general and we lack information on South-Eastern Libyan
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΒαυβώBAUBOEleusinian wife of Dysaules received Demeter into her home and tried to cheer her up by lifting her dress and exposing
herself to Demeter (Clem Alex Protr 2 21)
The name is derived from the colloquial verb βαυβάω to sleep but also took on the meaning of female sex A less
acceptable suggestion of Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 73) is a derivation from βαΰζω to murmur or from
πραΰνω to soothe which according to him are applicable to a governess
Category Female names
ΒαῦκιςBAUCISA Phrygian woman who together with her husband Philemon welcomed Zeus and Hermes they sent a flood upon all
the other villagers who had not welcomed them but transformed these two into trees and their hut into a temple
(Ovid Met 8 616-715)
16
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from βαυκός soft tender a folk word of uncertain etymology (Chantraine DELG) Room (Rooms
Classical Dictionary p 73) believes that it may have the same source as Baubo and in particular may be explained in
connection with πραΰνω to calm but such hypotheses are groundless
Category Female names
Theme Transformation
ΒελλεροφόντηςBELLEROPHONSon of Poseidon and the daughter of the king of Megara Iobates after he received a request from Proteus to kill the
hero commanded Bellerophon to slay the Chimera believing that this could not be done then sent him against the
Solymi the Amazons and Lydians until he recognized his divine nature (Hom Il 6 155-205 216-26)
Already in antiquity the name was interpreted as slayer of Belleros from the verb θείνω to slay that often appears
in the second part of compounds in the form -φόντης According to Kretschmer (Glotta 24 1936 pp 237-38 e 273
31 1951 pp 92 ff) this is an acceptable interpretation considering that Belleros is the name of a local demon On the
other hand Malten (Hermes 79 1944 pp 10 ff) views as a conjecture derived from popular imagination According
to Chantraine (DELG) supported also by Carnoy (DEMGR) Heubecks suggestion (Beitr Namenf 5 1954 pp 25-28)
that the name means full of strength being a compound of an Indo-European derivative bel- strength and ghwen
to swell up with cannot be proven
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΒῆλοςBELOSThe name of one of the two twin sons of the nymph Libya and Poseidon (the other was called Agenor) grandsons of
Epaphus (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4)
The name derives from the Semitic name of the god Baal Bel (Bernhard in Roscher Myth Lex I col 778)
Category Names of heroes
ΒιάνωρBIANORSon of the Tiber and the nymph Manto he founded the city of Mantua (Serv ad Verg Ecl 9 60)
This name is a compound of βιάω to tame to defeat and of ἀνήρ man and thus means he who forcefully tames
heroes Alternatively Pape- Benseler (WGE) translate it as a hard cruel violent man
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
17
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΒιήνωρBIENORTrojan captain with a Greek name called ποιmicroὴν λαῶν shepherd of people mentioned only once in Hom Il 11
92-93 when he was killed and stripped of his arms by Agamemnon together with his companion in arms and charioteer
Oileus
With the verbal sense of βια- it means ldquohe who with force dominates the enemy herordquo cf Bianor (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens I p 372-374) Elephenor Elpenor
Category Names of heroes
ΒορέαςBOREASGod of the North Wind the son of Eos and Astraeus brother of Zephyrus and Notus (Hes Theog 378)
One theory is that it means wind from the mountain related to Sanskrit giriacute- Avestan gairi- and ancient Slavic gora
mountain (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of gods
ΒῶροςBOROSBORUS1 Mentioned in Homer as the father of Phaestus Hom Il 5 44 he lived in Tarne Maeonia in the region of Smyrna
2 Another Borus in Homer (Il 16 177-178) son of Perieres was married to Polydora in Phthia Thessaly Polydora the
daughter of Peleus and Antigone 2 (Apollod Bibl 3 13 1) had a son Menesthius actually fathered by the river god
Spercheus (Il 16 173-176) 3 Son of Penthilus a descendant of Nestor grandson of Periclymenus had a son named
Andropompus who was the father of Melanthus who was expelled by the Hereclidae (Pausan 2 18 8)
The name probably is not Greek hence it is pointless to search for an explanation (as Pape-Benseler have done s v) by
resorting to the Hesychian gloss Βωροί ὀφθαλmicroοί eyes (Frisk GEW s v) Possibly related to the Βωρεῖς the name
of a tribe in Cyzicus (von Kamptz Homerische Personenn sect 81 pp 322)
Category Names of heroes
ΒουφάγοςBOUPHAGUSArcadian hero son of Iapetos and of Thornax killed by Artemis while chasing her on Mt Pholoe (Pausan 8 14 9 27 17)
18
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of βοῦς ldquooxrdquo and the aorist φαγεῖν of the verb ἐσθίω ldquoto eatrdquo it therefore means ldquoeater
of oxenrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ΒούτηςBOUTESBUTESName of various people including 1 A son of Boreas father of Hippodamia (Diod Sic 4 70) who tried to kill his
half-brother Licurgus and once discovered fled from Thessaly to Naxos where he became a pirate (Diod Sic 5 50)
2 Another was the son of the king of Athens Pandion and Zeuxippe (Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) brother of Procne and
Philomela founder of the hereditary priesthood of the Athenian Eteobutadai 3 A third son of Teleon participated
in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 4 912-19) He was the only one who threw himself into the sea
after he heard the song of the Sirens overwhelmed by the song of Orpheus He was saved by Aphrodite and afterwards
founded the colony of Lilybaeum near Eryx on Sicily
Derived from βούς cow and simply means cowherd
Category Names of heroes
ΒουζύγηςBOUZYGESA mythical character to whom the invention of the yoke is attributed (Serv ad Verg Georg 1 19 Hesych s v)
The name is a simple compound of βούς cow and the verb ζεύγνυmicroι to join and therefore means yoker of cows
Category Names of heroes
ΒράγχοςBRANCHUSSon of Smycrus a hero orginally from Delphi but who settled in Miletus before his birth his mother had a vision of the
sun descending into her mouth passing through her body and out of her vulva He was beloved by Apollo who gave
him the gift of prophecy (Conon Narr 33)
The name derives from the adjective βραγχός hoarse a technical term whose etymology is not clear one could
perhaps compare old Irish brong(a)ide hoarseness (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ΒρέmicroουσαBREMUSAAccording to a late poem (IV cent CE) she is one of the 12 Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy Quint
Smyrn Posthom 1 43 she is killed by Idomeneus with a stroke of his spear to her right breast
19
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The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
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(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
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ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
27
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
29
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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birth by Hermes to Cydon (Pausan 8 53 4) or always by Apollo to the Cretan twins Phylakides and Philander who
were nursed by a she-goat (Pausan 10 16 5)
The name refers to the tamarisk according to Dioscor 1 89 or the narcissus cf Hesych s v and is probably of
Egyptian origin (Chantraine DELG)
Theme Transformation
ἈκαλανθίςACALANTISDaughter of King Pierus of Macedonia With her eight sisters she dared compete with the Muses in song and for this
they were transformed into birds Acalantis become a goldfinch (Anton Lib Metam 9)
The name means precisely goldfinch (DArcy Thompson A Glossary of Greek Birds pp 30 ss) and derives from
ἄκανθα which refers to various spiny plants like the thistle with metathesis from ἀκανθαλίς
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Transformation
ἈκάmicroαςACAMAS1 Thracian leader counted among the bravest an ally of the Trojans and co-commander with Peiroos (Hom Il 2
844-845 5 462-469) He was son of Eussoros and was killed by Ajax with a blow from his spear through the forehead
(Hom Il 6 7-10) 2 Son of Antenor and brother of Archelochos (Hom Il 2 822-823 11 60) he together with his
brother and Aeneias led the fourth contingent of Trojan soldiers (Hom Il 12 98-100) He prevailed in a confrontation
with Promachos avenging his brothers death and after warding off the attack of Peneleos (Hom Il 14 476-489)
died when he was shot in his right shoulder by Meriones while getting back into his chariot (Hom Il 16 342-344) 3
Son of Theseus and of Phaidra brother of Demophon (Diod Bibl 4 62) he became the object of Laodices desire and
had a son by her Munitos (Parth Narr amat 16) who was raised by Aithra during his return from Troy he landed in
Thrace where Phyllis too fell in love with him (Apollod Epit 6 16) on Cyprus he founded a colony and died when
he fell off a horse onto his sword (Tzetz ad Lycophr 494)
A Greek name it is an alpha-privative compound that is precisely the same form as the adjective ἀκάmicroας with a
privative prefix ἀ- and root καmicroα- to be derived from κάmicroνω work hard suffer intended here in the passive sense it
means the indefatigable For a similar formation cf Adamas Wathelet Dictionnaire des Troyens n 17 pp 242-249
von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 63 a p 166 Room Roomrsquos Classical Dictionary s v p 20)
Category Names of heroes
ἌκαστοςACASTUSSon of the king of Iolchus Pelias and of Anaxibia participated in the expedition of the Argonauts and in the hunt for
the boar of Calydon (Apollod Bibl 1910 916 927 3133 137-8)
It could be a compound of the verb κέκασmicroαι to excel shine and of ἀ- privative it would therefore mean he
who does not shine rightly Carnoy (DEMGR) points out that such a name would not be very fitting for a hero for
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which reason it is better to take the ἀ- as an intensifier and to understand the name as he who shines much the
splendid (cf anche von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 151 and Scholz in Snell Lex fr Ep col 406) The
feminine form Acasta (Ἀκάστη) is also attested the name of an Oceanid (Hes Theog 356)
Ἀκεσ(σ)αmicroενόςACESSAMENOSFather of Periboia 3 grandfather of Pelagon is mentioned only one time in Hom Il 21 143-144
Participial formation from the verb ἀκέοmicroαι cf the aorist ἠκεσάmicroην (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect 62 a b
p 164 cfr Iamenos Ialmenos Ormenos) it could mean he who is healed (less likely in the middle sense he who
has healed an illness Pape - Benseler s v heilbringer) According to Wathelet Dictionnaire des Troyens n 19 pp
250-251) it could be of non-Greek origin perhaps Macedonian connected with the city of Ἀκεσ(σ)αmicroεναί which
according to Steph Byz Ethn s v Ἀκεσαmicroεναί was founded precisely by our hero For the accentuation cf Schol
Hom ad loc ὀξυτονητέον τὸ Ἀκεσσαmicroενός ἵνα ὄνοmicroα γένηται as with Dexamenoacutes and Tisamenoacutes
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ἈχάτηςACHATES1 The name of a Trojan who accompanied Aeneas to Italy (Verg Aen 1120) 2 and of a Tyrrhenian companion of
Dionysus (Nonn Dion 13 309 37 350)
The name means agate (chalcedony quartz) and is probably a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v)
Category Names of heroes
ἈχέρωνACHERONCharacter who is supposed to have fathered Ascalaphos by a nymph of the underworld () by the name of Gorgyra
(Apollod 1 33 [= 1 5 3]) or elsewhere Orphne (Ovid Metam 5 539-541 in Greek there exists the adjective orphnoacutes
dark but not as a proper name so it is possible that it is an Ovidian invention) It is apparently the late creation of a
character to create an eponym for the name of the river even if the son that came to be attributed to him seems tied
to stories in the Demeter myth that look traditional enough The evidence (followed by Natalis Comes Mythologiae
III p 97) that makes him the son of Ceres and perhaps of a king of Sicily named Sicanus delivered by the goddess in
secret in a cave on Crete does not appear before Boccaccio Genealog deorum gentilium 3 4 1 who cites sources
that are highly dubious such as Theodontius and Pronapis and does not seem reliable
The Greek etymologies of the name of the river already known to Homer (Od 11 513 hapax it is identified with
many rivers the most famous of which still bears the name today and empties into the sea near Parga in Epeiros where
there also sat an oracle of the dead Νεκυοmicroαντεῖον cf Herodot 5 92 η) from ἀ- privative and χαίρειν because
those who go down there do not experience joy or elsewhere from ἄχεα ῥέων pouring forth sorrows (Etym M 180
46-57 s v) are evidently folk etymologies The same can be said for the meaning pale faded Bleichach (Pape and
Benseler GEW already in Plutarch de primo frig 948 E ἄχρωστος colorless) However even the comparisons with
Old Pers assaran or OCS jezero to reconstruct an ancient form ἀχεροντ- that would mean lake marsh (Chantraine
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DELG s v) do not seem very convincing Less suspect might be its connection to the adjective ἀχερωίς river of white
poplar trees (Carnoy DEMGR s v) But the etymology remains uncertain
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ἈχιλλεύςACHILLESName of the son of Peleus and Thetis father of Pyrrhus Neoptolemus (Hom Il passim)
Already in Mycenaean in the form a-ki-re-u (KN Vc 106) The etymology is not clear but different hypotheses have been
made 1) According to Apollodorus (Bibl 3136 Schol ad Lycophr 178 etc) the hero was so named by Chiron his lips
had never tasted the milk of Thetis and so the name would be from ἀ- privative and χείλη lip 2) It could be a pre-
Hellenic name (Bosshardt Die Nomina auf -εύς par 444 and Nordheider in Snell Lex fr Ep col 1754) 3) It could be
from ἄχος pain through a form ἄχιλος as ὄργιλος derives from ὀργή (Kretschmer Glotta 4 1915 pp 305-308)
it could also be a hypochoristic of Ἀχι-λάος again from ἄχος but with λάος people (Palmer Interpretation p 79)
he whose people has pain Nagy (The Best of the Achaeans pp 69-71) agrees with this hypothesis considering such
a name to accord well with the heros fortunes Holland (Glotta 71 1993 pp 17-27) criticizes Nagys interpretation
on various grounds and prefers to take the first part of the name as a verb meaning frighten given the connection of
ἄχος with terms in other Indo-European languages meaning terror fear thus the name would mean he who frightens
the army 4) According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the figure is a water divinity his name deriving from Indo-European aqwa
through Pelasgic - a highly unlikely derivation
Category Names of heroes
ἈδάmicroαςADAMASTrojan warrior who participated in the assault on the Greeks wall at Troy while fighting alongside his father King
Asios 2 (hence the patronymic Ἀσιάδης) and a group of companions that included Iamenos an Orestes Thoon and
an Oinomaos (Hom Il 12 137-140) After his attempt to kill Antilochos unsuccessful thanks to the intervention of
Poseidon who rendered Adamas weapon harmless he was himself hit with a spear in the lower abdomen by the Cretan
Meriones ending his life (Hom Il 13 560-574) He was with other heroes searched for by Hector who learned of
his death from Paris (Hom Il 13 754-773)
A proper name derived from the common substantive ἀδάmicroας (Hes Theog 161 [Hes] Scut 137) steel it is a
compound of the privative prefix α- and of the root δάmicro- a participle in -ντ here in the passive sense The root is also
very productive in the active sense throughout Greek onomastics (cf Laodamas Iphidamas Chersidamas Eurydamas
Polydamas) It therefore means indomitable unbeatable (Wathelet Dictionnaire des Troyens n 9 pp 167-170) For
the meaning it is possible to compare Acamas indefatigable (Ἀκάmicroας from α- and κάmicroνω work hard suffer)
with whom Adamas is found with some frequency In its formation it is also related to compounds in -τλα (see Atlas
Von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 28 a 1 p 83 sect 63 a 1 p 166) Only in Latin is there also attested the
6
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
feminine form Adamanteia (non-existent in Greek) a reading that was found in the first editions of Hyg Fab 139 but
which should obviously be corrected to Amalthea
Category Names of heroes
ἈδαmicroάστωρADAMASTORA huge monster as big as the Colossus of Rhodes that appeared to Vasco de Gama and the Portuguese fleet near the
Cape of Good Hope foretelling disaster Probably invented by Camotildees Lusiacuteadas 5 st 41-51 on classical models He is
referred to as the companion of Enceladus Aegaeon and of the other Giants who fought against the gods Interrogated
by the leader of the expedition he tells of his own unhappy love for the wife of Peleus Thetis who tricked him with an
apparition of herself for which he was transformed into the rock of the Cape of Good Hope (Lus st 52-60) This figure
is almost totally unknown to Greek and Roman mythology which refers to a giant Damastor (Claudian Gigant 101-103)
while one Adamasthor is listed among the other giants only in Sidon Apollin Carm 1520 (sec V- inizi VI dev)
The name is a nomen agentis formed with the suffix -τωρ from the verbal adjective ἀδαmicroαστός which means
unconquerable unconquered used frequently of young women who have not had sexual relations with a man (from
ἀ- privativo e δαmicro- δάmicroνηmicroι δαmicroάω) It seems to be constructed by analogy with Alagravestor Phobegravetor and would mean
that is unconquerable implacable The adjective ἀδαmicroάστωρ (v l ἀδαmicroάτωρ) is also found in Pap Mag IV 2717
in the sense of virgin said of Hecate
Category Names of gods
Theme Transformation
ἌδmicroητοςADMETUSKing of Pherai in Thessaly son of Pheretes husband of Alcestis (Apollod Bibl 1 8 2 9 16) He participated in the
Calydonian Boar Hunt and in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 1 49-50)
This name is derived from the verbal adjective of δάmicroνηmicroι conquer with privative ἀ- and so means unconquered
There is attested also the feminine Admeta (Ἀδmicroήτη) an Argive priestess daughter of Eurystheus (Pausan 8 4 4)
ἌδωνιςADONISBorn of Myrrharsquos incestuous love for her father Cinyras king of Cyprus His mother was transformed into the tree that
bears her name and the extraordinarily beautiful baby was raised by Aphrodite and Persephone he was killed by a
boar spurred on against him by Artemis (Apollod Bibl 3 14 4) In a local version based in Syria the father had the
name Theias (Ant Lib Metam 34 5)
This name is certainly a Semitic loan-word in Hebrew there is the word adon master lord (Chantraine DELG
Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v p 23)
Theme Incest
7
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἌδραστοςADRASTOSName of the king of Argos that hosted Tydeus and Polyneices gave his daughters Argia and Deipyle to them as wives
and led them on the expedition against Thebes (Hom Il 2 572)
It could be that what we have is a verbal adjective of the verb δι-δράσκω flee with an ἀ privative- which would
mean he who does not try to flee (Chantraine DELG s v διδράσκω) if interpreted in the active sense or better
he to whom one cannot flee if it has a passive sense Wathelet (Dictionnaire des Troyens pp 170-171) however
maintains that it is difficult to justify the presence of σ since the root of δι-δράσκω is δρα- and not δρασ- it could
be foreign to Greek but it is a name firmly attested in Greece - see also the feminine Ἀδράστεια another name for
Nemesis (cf Aesch Prom 936) Perhaps then it is a pre-Hellenic name and the derivation from διδράσκω could be
owed to a folk etymology
Category Names of heroes
ἈγακλήςAGACLESFather of one of the Myrmidons who was king in the town of Budeion (perhaps in Thessaly or in Boeotia Eustath
Comm ad Il 16 570-574) he was succeeded by his son Epeigeus who went into exile for having killed a noble cousin
and was taken in as a guest by Peleus and Thetis in Phthia (Hom Il 16 570-571) but later perished at Troy at the
hands of Hector
A simple compound of the prefix ἀγα- and of κλέος it means extremely glorious of abundant glory cf Agathocles
Megacles Pericles
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαmicroήδηςAGAMEDESName of the architect the son of Stymphalos who with his sons Trophonios and Cercyon built many famous structures
in ancient Greece (Pausan 8 4 8 10 2)
The name is a compound of ἀγα- an intensive prefix and of the verb microήδοmicroαι to plan a project to have in mind and
means therefore one who thinks a lot Also attested in the feminine Agamede (Ἀγαmicroήδη in Hom Il 11 740-741)
daughter of Augeias and wife of Moulios a sorceress skilled in drugs and poisons
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαmicroέmicroνωνAGAMEMNONSon of Atreus brother of Menelaos husband of Clytaimnestra supreme commander of the Achaean army in the Trojan
War (Hom Il passim)
The name is a compound of ἀγα- an intensive prefix the second part of the compound presents some uncertainties It
has been hypothesized that it is based on -microέδmicroων a derivative of microέδοmicroαι to command (Carnoy DEMGR maintains
such a hypothesis) according to Kretschmer (Glotta 3 1912 p 330) this interpretation is not acceptable Hamp
8
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(Glotta 49 1971 pp 21-24) supports the hypothesis already asserted by Heubeck (Gedenkschrift Brandenstein pp
357-61) that it derives from Ἀγα-microέν-microων with metathesis of νmicro gt microν the name would then derive from microένω to
resist with an expressive form of reduplication and would mean one who resists with vigor Van der Valk (in Snell
Lex fr Ep col 34) on the basis of analogy interprets it as an extremely energetic man full of vigor
Category Names of heroes
ἈγανίππηAGANIPPE1 Daughter of Termessos god of the river that flows around Helicon (Pausan 9 29 5 2) and so a Naiad the eponym
of the spring that flows out near the grove of the Muses on Mt Helicon in Boeotia later identified with the fountain
Hippocrene perhaps made to flow by the hoof of the winged horse Pegasos (Verg Eclog 10 12 Ovid Metam 5
262-263 Pausan 9 31 3-4) 2 As an alternative to Eurydike 2 (Schol ad Apollon Rhod 4 1091) she would be the
wife of Acrisius the mother of Danae and grandmother of Perseus Hygin Fab 63 3 A daughter of Aigyptos sacrificed
on the altar of the apotropaic gods in the late account of Ps Plut de fluviis 16 1 4 There exists a late masculine
form Ἀγάνιππος Trojan warrior killed by Ajax along with many companions in a non-Homeric tradition (Quint Smyrn
Posthom 3 227-231)
A compound of the adjective ἀγανός sweet soft and ἵππος mare it could mean tame mare
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ἈγαπήνωρAGAPENORSon of Ankaios and Io leader of the Arcadian contingent who came to the Trojan War from Tegea (Hom Il 2 609 ss)
The name is a compound of the verb ἀγαπάω to love and ἀνήρ man it could mean one who loves men or one
who loves manly courage Cf other personal names such as Ἀντ- ήνωρ Βι- ήνωρ Ἐλεφ- ήνωρ Πεισ- ήνωρ where
the nominal part of the compound seems to be particularly ἀνήρ while for Ὑπερ- ήνωρ the predominant sense is
apparently that of ἠνορέη manly courage which is also found in numerous adjectival compounds
Category Names of heroes
ἈγασθένηςAGASTHENESSon of Augeias brother of Phyleus and father of Polyxeinos who was commander of ten of the 40 ships in the contingent
sent from Elis (Hom Il 2 615-624) and who also appears in the catalog of the suitors of Helen Polyxeinos would
return safe and sound from Troy and would father a son by the name of Amphimachos 3 (Pausan 5 3 4)
9
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
A name easily interpreted it is a compound of the intensive prefix ἀγα- and -σθένος strength very productive in
Greek personal names and so means endowed with great strength (von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 31 a
2 p 89) cf Demosthenes Eurysthenes Megasthenes etc
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάστροφοςAGASTROPHOSIn Homer a Trojan warrior the son of Paion killed by Diomedes by a blow of a spear to the buttocks while fighting
in the front lines on foot after having foolishly separated himself from his chariot and his charioteer (Hom Il 11
338-342 368 Diomedes was struck on the foot by a arrow while trying to strip him of his armor 11 373 cfr Scholia
ad l Eustath 320712 ad l Etym Gudianum 235 15 s v Ἠγαθέη in a compound with ἀγα-)
Wathelet (Dictionnaire des Troyens n 5 pp 148-149) attempts to link this personal name and the military event in
which he is involved ineffectually It may mean des sehr Wendige that is very nimble in movement (von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 22 a 1 p 71) cfr Epistrophos impetuous in attack) so one who turns aggressively
against the enemy from the prefix ἀγα- active in many compounds and the verb στρέφω rotate turn spin
around Less probable (but possible) is he who knows how to turn a chariot in excellent fashion
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάθωνAGATHONSon of Priam cited only once in the last book of Hom Il 24 with the epithet δῖος ldquoillustriousrdquo with eight of his
brothers and half-brothers he was reproached by his elderly father who impatiently waited to have his chariot prepared
so that he could go to reclaim the body of Hector
A simple formation with the suffix -ων from the adjective ἀγαθός goodly capable with recessive accent
Mycenaean recognizes a genitive a-ka-ta-jo-jo (PY En 659) which can be rendered as Ἀγαθαῖος (but also as Ἀκταῖος)
It does not seem necessary to consider it a hypocorism for Agathocles or Agathodoros (Wathelet Dictionnaire des
Troyens I p 147) the name is in any case very common in Greek and it is one of the many examples of entirely
Greek personal names in the Trojan camp
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαυήAGAVEDaughter of Kadmos and of Harmonia mother of Pentheus (Hes Theog 975 ss Eurip Bacch passim) sister of Semele
Ino and Autonoe Another Agave less well-known appears among the Nereids (Hom Il 18 42)
10
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from ἀγαυός admirable noble illustrious an adjective related to the verb ἄγαmicroαι to admire
marvel at (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγαυός)
ἈγέλαοςAGELAOSA rather popular name in Homer we find 1 a Greek officer who was killed along with eight other commanders
(ἡγεmicroόνες) by Hektor in Hom Il 11 301-304 2 a Trojan warrior son of Phradmon the first to have been killed by
Diomedes who after having crossed the ditch with his horses stabbed him with a javelin between his shoulders forcing
it through his chest and making him fall from his chariot in his armor (Hom Il 8 253-260) 3 a slave of Priam who was
charged by the king with exposing Paris on mount Ida but shortly afterwards he was moved by pity and raised the baby
as his own Apollod Bibl 3 12 5 (149-150) 4 one of the suitors of Penelope son of Damastor who tried to convince
Telemachos to agree to allow him to marry his mother (Hom Od 20 321 ss) He urged on Melanthius and other to exit
the hall and raise the alarm during the slaughter of the suitors (Od 22 131 136 212) and was killed by Odysseus with
a spear-blow (Od 22 292-293) 5 son of Herakles and of Omphale ancestor of the kings of Lydia Apollod Bibl 2 7
8 (165) 6 son of Oineus king of Calydon and brother of Meleagros Antonin Lib Metam 2
A compound of the verb ἄγω ldquoto guide leadrdquo and of the substantive λαός ldquopeople in armsrdquo analogous to Agenor
it is perhaps already attested in the Mycenaean a-ke-ra-wo KN Vc 316 (also read Ἀρχέλαος) where there exists also
the nomen agentis ra-wa-ke-ta (PY Un 718 9 etc) usually interpreted as λαϜ-αγέτας ldquoleader of armed troopsrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈγήνωρAGENOR1 Son of Poseidon and Libya and father of Europa Kadmos Phoinix and Cilix (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4 3 1) and
descendant of Argive Io 2 Among other characters with this name there is a Trojan hero son of Antenor frequently
mentioned in the Iliad (21 544-599 e passim)
The name means ldquohe who leads the men valiantrdquo as it is a compound of ἄγω ldquoto leadrdquo and of ἀνήρ man By
contrast Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 32) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 99) maintain that
the first part of the name is the intensive prefix ἀγα- and that the name means ldquoextremely manly courageousrdquo The
first interpretation seems preferable by far because compounds in ἀγα- are most often formed from verbs (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens de lIliade p 154)
Category Names of heroes
ἈγλαίαAGLAIAName of one of the Graces or Charites (Hes Theog 69 907 ss)
11
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It is derived from the adjective ἀγλαός illustrious shining and means she who displays radiance beauty
Category Names of gods
ἌγριοςAGRIOS1 A giant who was killed along with Thoas by the Moirai in the Gigantomachy when these two sons of Gaia fought
against the gods (Apollod Bibl 1 6 2) 2 Son of Portheus and brother of Oineus (king of Calydon in Aitolia grandfather
of Diomedes) and of Melas with whom he lived in Pleuron (Hom Il 14 116-118) He had six children including
Thersites who deposed Oineus in favor of their own father before departing for the Trojan War (Apollod Bibl 1 8 68)
According to Hyginus after the fall of the city Diomedes learned that his grandfather had been deposed and ousted
Agrios who committed suicide because of it (Hygin Fab 175 242 and Antonin Lib Metam 37 1) 3 Centaur that
Heracles drove off by throwing red-hot coals at him when he drawn by the smell of wine rushed to the wine-jar of
Pholos which had been opened during the heros fourth labor when he was passing through Arcadia (Apollod Bibl 2 5
4) 4 Brother of Oreios he was a Thracian giant born of Polyphonte and a bear he and his brother would haul strangers
off and devour them He was transformed by the gods into a vulture to punish him for his cruel bestiality (Antonin Lib
Metam 21) 5 Son of Circe and Odysseus brother of Latinos and of Telegonos (Hes Theog 1011-1014)
Derived directly from the adjective ἄγριος uncultivated or not domesticated even savage violent Von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 4 b 1 p 14 compares it to the compound Μελέαγρος not coincidentally his nephew
Since the countryside as an uncultivated area is normally fitting for activity connected to hunting one could easily
explain that the term ἄγριος could mean either ldquohe who nurtures the landrdquo (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγρός) or ldquohe
who hunts in an uncultivated areardquo
Category Names of heroes
ἌγρωνAGRONName of an inhabitant of the island of Cos who along with his sisters Byssa and Meropis worshiped only the Earth and
insulted the other gods who in revenge transformed him into a plover (Anton Lib Met 15 from Boios Ornithogonia)
It possibly derives from ἀγρός field land and means something like lover of fields man of the country
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Transformation
ΑἴαςAIAS (AJAX)Name of two Homeric heroes 1 the son of Oileus of Locris (Hom Il 13 46 23 754) 2 the son of Telamon king
of Salamis (Hom Il 2 553 7 183) he killed himself by falling on his sword cf Sophocles tragedy Aias which is
dedicated to him
Various theories have been proposed as to how to interpret this name 1) already in antiquity it was connected to
αἰετός eagle (Hes Fr 250 = Schol ad Pind Isth 6 53 Apollod Bibl 3 12 7) a complete invention 2) it could be
related to αἶα land (Chantraine DELG von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 168 Van der Valk in Snell Lex
12
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
fr Ep col 232) and would mean man of the earth or the descendant of Aia 3) already attested in Mycenaean ai-
wa (Kn Np 973) perhaps as a bovine name it could be interpreted as a hypocorism of Αἴολος alive from the Indo-
European aiu+unt- he who has dynamic strength vigorous (Muumlhlestein Studi Micenei 2 1967 pp 41-52 Carnoy
DEMGR and von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 368)
Category Names of heroes
ἈλέκτωρALEKTORName of different figures including 1) the son of Anaxagoras (Apollod Bibl 3 6 2) 2) the son of Epeios (Diod Sic
4 69) 3) the son of Argeios grandson of Pelops he is the father of Iphiloche or Echemela (Schol ad Hom Od 4 10)
whom Menelaos gave in matrimony to Megapenthes 4) the father of the Argonaut Leitos (Apollod Bibl 1 9 16)
Already attested in Mycenaean a-re-ko-to-re (KN Ce 1521) it is a nomen agentis in -τωρ from the verb ἀλέκω ldquoto
defend repelrdquo and thus means ldquothe defenderrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈλεκτρύωνALEKTRYONName of the sentry assigned by Ares to inform him about the approach of day while the god was occupied in his affair
with Aphrodite (Eustath ad Hom 1598 61) it is obviously an allusion to the cock-crow
It is attested in Mycenaean in the form A-re-ku-tu-ru-wo (PY An 6548) It means ldquoroosterrdquo and is formed from ἀλέκτωρ
ldquodefenderrdquo since it refers to a combative animal (Chantraine DELG s v ἀλέξω) Ruijgh (Minos 9 1968 p 153)
prefers to interpret it instead as a derivative of ἄλεκτρον a defensive implement
ἈλήτηςALETESSon of Hippotes descendant of Herakles born during the return of the Herakleidai (Pausan 2 4 4 5 18 8)
It means wanderer vagabond and is the nomen agentis of the verb ἀλάοmicroαι to wander (Chantraine DELG s v
ἀλάοmicroαι)
Category Names of heroes
ἈφροδίτηAPHRODITEGoddess of love (Hom Il 5 820 and passim Hymn Hom ad Ven Hes Theog 190 ff) born of the foam of the sea
and the genitals of Ouranos or according to another tradition of Zeus and Dione
She is a goddess of Near Eastern origin and later there arises a folk etymology that interprets the name as coming from
ἀφρός foam (Plat Crat 406 c) οὕνεκ ἐν ἀφρῷ θρέφθη (Hes Theog 197-198) The theory of Grimme (Glotta 14
1925 p 18) who proposes an association with the Semitic goddess of fertility Astoret has not been proven nor has
that of Hammarstroumlm (Glotta 11 1921 pp 214 ff) who compares this name with the pre-Indo-European πρύτανις
13
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Etruscan (e)pr ni this latter hypothesis is also maintained by Carnoy (DEMGR) but with the help of Pelasgian phonology
according to which p would become ph
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ἈθήνηATHENAA goddess daughter of Zeus and Metis born from the head of the god (Hes Theog 886 ss)
This name is already attested in Mycenaean in the form of a-ta-na-po-ti-ni-ja (KN V 521 52 bis) and is difficult to
explain Carnoy (DEMGR) supports the Pelasgic hypothesis of Van Windekens (Le Peacutelasgique pp 40-41) according to
whom the initial Ath- is a Pelasgic form of the Indo-European at-no Sanskrit atta mother with the change t gt th
but Athena does not have maternal characteristics in the historical period It is possible that it is a pre-Hellenic name
(cfr van der Valk in Snell Lex fr Ep col 208)
Category Names of gods
ΒαῖοςBAIOS or BAEUSHelmsman of Odysseus whose name was supposedly given to various places for instance a mountain on the island of
Cephalonia and the town of Baia in Campania (Strab 1 p 26 5 p 245 Lycophr Alex 694) The name only occurs in
the post-classical period and does not appear in the Homeric poems
The name apparently derives from βαιός short unimportant with the recessive accent often found with
anthroponyms
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΒαλίοςBALIOS or BALIUSOne of the two immortal horses of Achilles (Xanthus) son of Zephyrus and the Harpy Podarge who was given to Peleus
by Poseidon perhaps on the occasion of Peleusrsquo wedding to Thetis The third horse of Achilles team was Pedasus who
was killed in battle 2 The horse of Celmis (or Schelmis) beaten in a race by the mare of Erechtheus named Podarce
(Nonn Dionys 37 334-337) 3 One of the dogs of Actaeon in Apollod Bibl 33 4 4
With a recessive accent Baliacuteos is simply derived from βαλιός speckled spotted
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασίλειαBASILEIAEldest daughter of Uranus and Titaia who distinguished herself from her sisters through her wisdom and intelligence she
married her brother Hyperion and gave birth to Selene and Helios (Diod Sic 3 57 who reports a non-Greek tradition)
14
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means queen ending in the suffix -y - Its origin is probably as a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v
βασιλεύς) from Mycenean qa-si-re-u
Category Names of gods
ΒασιλίσκοςBASILISKA serpent of small size no more than twelve inches long (about a handrsquos length) marked by a white spot on the head
is also distinguished from other snakes by traveling upright rather than slithering (erectus in medio incedens Plin
Nat Hist 8 33 78 Aelian Hist anim 2 5)One is tempted to identify it with the cobra Lucan (Bell Civ 724-26)
mentioned its death-bringing hiss including it in his comprehensive catalogue of snakes to which Dante alludes in the
Circle of Hell dedicated to thieves (Inf 24 85 ff) Not only its touch but its breath is destructive wherever it appears
(exurit herbas rumpit saxa) Its venom can pass through objects if it is true that one time as Pliny says a rider and
his horse were destroyed by poison traveling up the long spear used for killing the serpent cf also Aelian Nat anim 2
5 The power of its gaze is terrible anyone who meets it dies The only way to look upon it is ithrough the reflection of
a mirror just as Perseus had done with Medusa from whose blood all the reptiles of Libya arose (Lucan Bell Civ 696
ff) Alexander the Great during his campaign in India to defeat the horrible creature (cf Leo Neapol Hist de prelis
Alex Magni rec I 3 p 320 sec X) used the stratagem of putting mirrors on the shields of his soldiers The basiliskrsquos
mortal enemies are the weasel and the cock the first kills him with its own smell (Plin Nat hist 8 33 79) the
second protected travelers who passed through Libya (Aelian Nat anim 3 31) In Late Antique and Medieval bestiaries
its nature is linked to that of its enemy the cock it too can go on all fours or can assume plumage while keeping a
reptilian tail thus arose the basilgallo (basilicock in Chaucer) In the Middle Ages it had a negative connotation at
times relating it to the Devil (or Antichrist) to the sinner or heresy To St Antony of Padua (Sermoni) it represented
wrath Cecco dAscoli who was burned at the stake in 1327 on the charge of sorcery records that the basilisk is the
Lord of serpents (Acerba 30) The preconception has biblical roots Isaiah (59 5) mentions a poisonous reptile the
Hebrew tsepha that in the translation of the Septuagint became βασιλίσκος and in the Vulgate basiliscus It likewise
occurs in Jeremiah 8 17 and in Psalms 91 13 Modern translations more cautiously prefers asp viper serpent
The etymology is simple βασιλίσκος diminutive of βασιλεύς (a word already attested in Mycenaean qa-si-re-u)
means little king lat basiliscus and regulus designating the king of the serpents due to its terrible powers in
spite of its small size
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασσάραBASSARAName of a Thracian Bacchant (Athen 5 7 p 198)
15
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means fox but also suggests the clothing of the Thracian bacchants which were made from fox pelts it
is a term derived from a loan word perhaps linked to the cult of Dionysus (Chantraine DELG s v) cf the verb ἀνα-
βασσαρέω Anacr fr 11 6 (356) PMG to revel Braccini T Glotta 86 2010 pp 7-21
ΒάτωνBATONA Theban the relative and charioteer of Amphiaraus He was swallowed up along with him into a chasm that opened
in the earth in front of Thebes (Pausan 2 23 2 5 17 8 10 10 3)
The name may come from βάτος bramble and may mean bramble or one who inhabits the bramble
Category Names of heroes
ΒάττοςBATTUSThe name of an old man transformed into a rock by Hermes because he did not keep secret the theft of Apollos cattle
(Anton Lib Met 23) A more widely known character with this name is the founder of Cyrene the son of Polymnestus
and Phronima (Herodot 4 145 ff Callim Hymn 2 65 Pausan 3 14 3 10 15 6-7)
The name belongs to the family of the verb βατταρίζω to stutter and means the stutterer they are onomatopoetic
terms According to Herodotus (4 145 ff) it could signify king in Libyan Masson (Glotta 54 1976 pp 84-98) favors
the first interpretation since the words of Herodotus are general and we lack information on South-Eastern Libyan
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΒαυβώBAUBOEleusinian wife of Dysaules received Demeter into her home and tried to cheer her up by lifting her dress and exposing
herself to Demeter (Clem Alex Protr 2 21)
The name is derived from the colloquial verb βαυβάω to sleep but also took on the meaning of female sex A less
acceptable suggestion of Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 73) is a derivation from βαΰζω to murmur or from
πραΰνω to soothe which according to him are applicable to a governess
Category Female names
ΒαῦκιςBAUCISA Phrygian woman who together with her husband Philemon welcomed Zeus and Hermes they sent a flood upon all
the other villagers who had not welcomed them but transformed these two into trees and their hut into a temple
(Ovid Met 8 616-715)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from βαυκός soft tender a folk word of uncertain etymology (Chantraine DELG) Room (Rooms
Classical Dictionary p 73) believes that it may have the same source as Baubo and in particular may be explained in
connection with πραΰνω to calm but such hypotheses are groundless
Category Female names
Theme Transformation
ΒελλεροφόντηςBELLEROPHONSon of Poseidon and the daughter of the king of Megara Iobates after he received a request from Proteus to kill the
hero commanded Bellerophon to slay the Chimera believing that this could not be done then sent him against the
Solymi the Amazons and Lydians until he recognized his divine nature (Hom Il 6 155-205 216-26)
Already in antiquity the name was interpreted as slayer of Belleros from the verb θείνω to slay that often appears
in the second part of compounds in the form -φόντης According to Kretschmer (Glotta 24 1936 pp 237-38 e 273
31 1951 pp 92 ff) this is an acceptable interpretation considering that Belleros is the name of a local demon On the
other hand Malten (Hermes 79 1944 pp 10 ff) views as a conjecture derived from popular imagination According
to Chantraine (DELG) supported also by Carnoy (DEMGR) Heubecks suggestion (Beitr Namenf 5 1954 pp 25-28)
that the name means full of strength being a compound of an Indo-European derivative bel- strength and ghwen
to swell up with cannot be proven
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΒῆλοςBELOSThe name of one of the two twin sons of the nymph Libya and Poseidon (the other was called Agenor) grandsons of
Epaphus (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4)
The name derives from the Semitic name of the god Baal Bel (Bernhard in Roscher Myth Lex I col 778)
Category Names of heroes
ΒιάνωρBIANORSon of the Tiber and the nymph Manto he founded the city of Mantua (Serv ad Verg Ecl 9 60)
This name is a compound of βιάω to tame to defeat and of ἀνήρ man and thus means he who forcefully tames
heroes Alternatively Pape- Benseler (WGE) translate it as a hard cruel violent man
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΒιήνωρBIENORTrojan captain with a Greek name called ποιmicroὴν λαῶν shepherd of people mentioned only once in Hom Il 11
92-93 when he was killed and stripped of his arms by Agamemnon together with his companion in arms and charioteer
Oileus
With the verbal sense of βια- it means ldquohe who with force dominates the enemy herordquo cf Bianor (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens I p 372-374) Elephenor Elpenor
Category Names of heroes
ΒορέαςBOREASGod of the North Wind the son of Eos and Astraeus brother of Zephyrus and Notus (Hes Theog 378)
One theory is that it means wind from the mountain related to Sanskrit giriacute- Avestan gairi- and ancient Slavic gora
mountain (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of gods
ΒῶροςBOROSBORUS1 Mentioned in Homer as the father of Phaestus Hom Il 5 44 he lived in Tarne Maeonia in the region of Smyrna
2 Another Borus in Homer (Il 16 177-178) son of Perieres was married to Polydora in Phthia Thessaly Polydora the
daughter of Peleus and Antigone 2 (Apollod Bibl 3 13 1) had a son Menesthius actually fathered by the river god
Spercheus (Il 16 173-176) 3 Son of Penthilus a descendant of Nestor grandson of Periclymenus had a son named
Andropompus who was the father of Melanthus who was expelled by the Hereclidae (Pausan 2 18 8)
The name probably is not Greek hence it is pointless to search for an explanation (as Pape-Benseler have done s v) by
resorting to the Hesychian gloss Βωροί ὀφθαλmicroοί eyes (Frisk GEW s v) Possibly related to the Βωρεῖς the name
of a tribe in Cyzicus (von Kamptz Homerische Personenn sect 81 pp 322)
Category Names of heroes
ΒουφάγοςBOUPHAGUSArcadian hero son of Iapetos and of Thornax killed by Artemis while chasing her on Mt Pholoe (Pausan 8 14 9 27 17)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of βοῦς ldquooxrdquo and the aorist φαγεῖν of the verb ἐσθίω ldquoto eatrdquo it therefore means ldquoeater
of oxenrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ΒούτηςBOUTESBUTESName of various people including 1 A son of Boreas father of Hippodamia (Diod Sic 4 70) who tried to kill his
half-brother Licurgus and once discovered fled from Thessaly to Naxos where he became a pirate (Diod Sic 5 50)
2 Another was the son of the king of Athens Pandion and Zeuxippe (Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) brother of Procne and
Philomela founder of the hereditary priesthood of the Athenian Eteobutadai 3 A third son of Teleon participated
in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 4 912-19) He was the only one who threw himself into the sea
after he heard the song of the Sirens overwhelmed by the song of Orpheus He was saved by Aphrodite and afterwards
founded the colony of Lilybaeum near Eryx on Sicily
Derived from βούς cow and simply means cowherd
Category Names of heroes
ΒουζύγηςBOUZYGESA mythical character to whom the invention of the yoke is attributed (Serv ad Verg Georg 1 19 Hesych s v)
The name is a simple compound of βούς cow and the verb ζεύγνυmicroι to join and therefore means yoker of cows
Category Names of heroes
ΒράγχοςBRANCHUSSon of Smycrus a hero orginally from Delphi but who settled in Miletus before his birth his mother had a vision of the
sun descending into her mouth passing through her body and out of her vulva He was beloved by Apollo who gave
him the gift of prophecy (Conon Narr 33)
The name derives from the adjective βραγχός hoarse a technical term whose etymology is not clear one could
perhaps compare old Irish brong(a)ide hoarseness (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ΒρέmicroουσαBREMUSAAccording to a late poem (IV cent CE) she is one of the 12 Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy Quint
Smyrn Posthom 1 43 she is killed by Idomeneus with a stroke of his spear to her right breast
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
20
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
21
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
22
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
23
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
24
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
25
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
26
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
27
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
38
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
which reason it is better to take the ἀ- as an intensifier and to understand the name as he who shines much the
splendid (cf anche von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 151 and Scholz in Snell Lex fr Ep col 406) The
feminine form Acasta (Ἀκάστη) is also attested the name of an Oceanid (Hes Theog 356)
Ἀκεσ(σ)αmicroενόςACESSAMENOSFather of Periboia 3 grandfather of Pelagon is mentioned only one time in Hom Il 21 143-144
Participial formation from the verb ἀκέοmicroαι cf the aorist ἠκεσάmicroην (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect 62 a b
p 164 cfr Iamenos Ialmenos Ormenos) it could mean he who is healed (less likely in the middle sense he who
has healed an illness Pape - Benseler s v heilbringer) According to Wathelet Dictionnaire des Troyens n 19 pp
250-251) it could be of non-Greek origin perhaps Macedonian connected with the city of Ἀκεσ(σ)αmicroεναί which
according to Steph Byz Ethn s v Ἀκεσαmicroεναί was founded precisely by our hero For the accentuation cf Schol
Hom ad loc ὀξυτονητέον τὸ Ἀκεσσαmicroενός ἵνα ὄνοmicroα γένηται as with Dexamenoacutes and Tisamenoacutes
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ἈχάτηςACHATES1 The name of a Trojan who accompanied Aeneas to Italy (Verg Aen 1120) 2 and of a Tyrrhenian companion of
Dionysus (Nonn Dion 13 309 37 350)
The name means agate (chalcedony quartz) and is probably a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v)
Category Names of heroes
ἈχέρωνACHERONCharacter who is supposed to have fathered Ascalaphos by a nymph of the underworld () by the name of Gorgyra
(Apollod 1 33 [= 1 5 3]) or elsewhere Orphne (Ovid Metam 5 539-541 in Greek there exists the adjective orphnoacutes
dark but not as a proper name so it is possible that it is an Ovidian invention) It is apparently the late creation of a
character to create an eponym for the name of the river even if the son that came to be attributed to him seems tied
to stories in the Demeter myth that look traditional enough The evidence (followed by Natalis Comes Mythologiae
III p 97) that makes him the son of Ceres and perhaps of a king of Sicily named Sicanus delivered by the goddess in
secret in a cave on Crete does not appear before Boccaccio Genealog deorum gentilium 3 4 1 who cites sources
that are highly dubious such as Theodontius and Pronapis and does not seem reliable
The Greek etymologies of the name of the river already known to Homer (Od 11 513 hapax it is identified with
many rivers the most famous of which still bears the name today and empties into the sea near Parga in Epeiros where
there also sat an oracle of the dead Νεκυοmicroαντεῖον cf Herodot 5 92 η) from ἀ- privative and χαίρειν because
those who go down there do not experience joy or elsewhere from ἄχεα ῥέων pouring forth sorrows (Etym M 180
46-57 s v) are evidently folk etymologies The same can be said for the meaning pale faded Bleichach (Pape and
Benseler GEW already in Plutarch de primo frig 948 E ἄχρωστος colorless) However even the comparisons with
Old Pers assaran or OCS jezero to reconstruct an ancient form ἀχεροντ- that would mean lake marsh (Chantraine
5
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
DELG s v) do not seem very convincing Less suspect might be its connection to the adjective ἀχερωίς river of white
poplar trees (Carnoy DEMGR s v) But the etymology remains uncertain
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ἈχιλλεύςACHILLESName of the son of Peleus and Thetis father of Pyrrhus Neoptolemus (Hom Il passim)
Already in Mycenaean in the form a-ki-re-u (KN Vc 106) The etymology is not clear but different hypotheses have been
made 1) According to Apollodorus (Bibl 3136 Schol ad Lycophr 178 etc) the hero was so named by Chiron his lips
had never tasted the milk of Thetis and so the name would be from ἀ- privative and χείλη lip 2) It could be a pre-
Hellenic name (Bosshardt Die Nomina auf -εύς par 444 and Nordheider in Snell Lex fr Ep col 1754) 3) It could be
from ἄχος pain through a form ἄχιλος as ὄργιλος derives from ὀργή (Kretschmer Glotta 4 1915 pp 305-308)
it could also be a hypochoristic of Ἀχι-λάος again from ἄχος but with λάος people (Palmer Interpretation p 79)
he whose people has pain Nagy (The Best of the Achaeans pp 69-71) agrees with this hypothesis considering such
a name to accord well with the heros fortunes Holland (Glotta 71 1993 pp 17-27) criticizes Nagys interpretation
on various grounds and prefers to take the first part of the name as a verb meaning frighten given the connection of
ἄχος with terms in other Indo-European languages meaning terror fear thus the name would mean he who frightens
the army 4) According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the figure is a water divinity his name deriving from Indo-European aqwa
through Pelasgic - a highly unlikely derivation
Category Names of heroes
ἈδάmicroαςADAMASTrojan warrior who participated in the assault on the Greeks wall at Troy while fighting alongside his father King
Asios 2 (hence the patronymic Ἀσιάδης) and a group of companions that included Iamenos an Orestes Thoon and
an Oinomaos (Hom Il 12 137-140) After his attempt to kill Antilochos unsuccessful thanks to the intervention of
Poseidon who rendered Adamas weapon harmless he was himself hit with a spear in the lower abdomen by the Cretan
Meriones ending his life (Hom Il 13 560-574) He was with other heroes searched for by Hector who learned of
his death from Paris (Hom Il 13 754-773)
A proper name derived from the common substantive ἀδάmicroας (Hes Theog 161 [Hes] Scut 137) steel it is a
compound of the privative prefix α- and of the root δάmicro- a participle in -ντ here in the passive sense The root is also
very productive in the active sense throughout Greek onomastics (cf Laodamas Iphidamas Chersidamas Eurydamas
Polydamas) It therefore means indomitable unbeatable (Wathelet Dictionnaire des Troyens n 9 pp 167-170) For
the meaning it is possible to compare Acamas indefatigable (Ἀκάmicroας from α- and κάmicroνω work hard suffer)
with whom Adamas is found with some frequency In its formation it is also related to compounds in -τλα (see Atlas
Von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 28 a 1 p 83 sect 63 a 1 p 166) Only in Latin is there also attested the
6
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
feminine form Adamanteia (non-existent in Greek) a reading that was found in the first editions of Hyg Fab 139 but
which should obviously be corrected to Amalthea
Category Names of heroes
ἈδαmicroάστωρADAMASTORA huge monster as big as the Colossus of Rhodes that appeared to Vasco de Gama and the Portuguese fleet near the
Cape of Good Hope foretelling disaster Probably invented by Camotildees Lusiacuteadas 5 st 41-51 on classical models He is
referred to as the companion of Enceladus Aegaeon and of the other Giants who fought against the gods Interrogated
by the leader of the expedition he tells of his own unhappy love for the wife of Peleus Thetis who tricked him with an
apparition of herself for which he was transformed into the rock of the Cape of Good Hope (Lus st 52-60) This figure
is almost totally unknown to Greek and Roman mythology which refers to a giant Damastor (Claudian Gigant 101-103)
while one Adamasthor is listed among the other giants only in Sidon Apollin Carm 1520 (sec V- inizi VI dev)
The name is a nomen agentis formed with the suffix -τωρ from the verbal adjective ἀδαmicroαστός which means
unconquerable unconquered used frequently of young women who have not had sexual relations with a man (from
ἀ- privativo e δαmicro- δάmicroνηmicroι δαmicroάω) It seems to be constructed by analogy with Alagravestor Phobegravetor and would mean
that is unconquerable implacable The adjective ἀδαmicroάστωρ (v l ἀδαmicroάτωρ) is also found in Pap Mag IV 2717
in the sense of virgin said of Hecate
Category Names of gods
Theme Transformation
ἌδmicroητοςADMETUSKing of Pherai in Thessaly son of Pheretes husband of Alcestis (Apollod Bibl 1 8 2 9 16) He participated in the
Calydonian Boar Hunt and in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 1 49-50)
This name is derived from the verbal adjective of δάmicroνηmicroι conquer with privative ἀ- and so means unconquered
There is attested also the feminine Admeta (Ἀδmicroήτη) an Argive priestess daughter of Eurystheus (Pausan 8 4 4)
ἌδωνιςADONISBorn of Myrrharsquos incestuous love for her father Cinyras king of Cyprus His mother was transformed into the tree that
bears her name and the extraordinarily beautiful baby was raised by Aphrodite and Persephone he was killed by a
boar spurred on against him by Artemis (Apollod Bibl 3 14 4) In a local version based in Syria the father had the
name Theias (Ant Lib Metam 34 5)
This name is certainly a Semitic loan-word in Hebrew there is the word adon master lord (Chantraine DELG
Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v p 23)
Theme Incest
7
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἌδραστοςADRASTOSName of the king of Argos that hosted Tydeus and Polyneices gave his daughters Argia and Deipyle to them as wives
and led them on the expedition against Thebes (Hom Il 2 572)
It could be that what we have is a verbal adjective of the verb δι-δράσκω flee with an ἀ privative- which would
mean he who does not try to flee (Chantraine DELG s v διδράσκω) if interpreted in the active sense or better
he to whom one cannot flee if it has a passive sense Wathelet (Dictionnaire des Troyens pp 170-171) however
maintains that it is difficult to justify the presence of σ since the root of δι-δράσκω is δρα- and not δρασ- it could
be foreign to Greek but it is a name firmly attested in Greece - see also the feminine Ἀδράστεια another name for
Nemesis (cf Aesch Prom 936) Perhaps then it is a pre-Hellenic name and the derivation from διδράσκω could be
owed to a folk etymology
Category Names of heroes
ἈγακλήςAGACLESFather of one of the Myrmidons who was king in the town of Budeion (perhaps in Thessaly or in Boeotia Eustath
Comm ad Il 16 570-574) he was succeeded by his son Epeigeus who went into exile for having killed a noble cousin
and was taken in as a guest by Peleus and Thetis in Phthia (Hom Il 16 570-571) but later perished at Troy at the
hands of Hector
A simple compound of the prefix ἀγα- and of κλέος it means extremely glorious of abundant glory cf Agathocles
Megacles Pericles
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαmicroήδηςAGAMEDESName of the architect the son of Stymphalos who with his sons Trophonios and Cercyon built many famous structures
in ancient Greece (Pausan 8 4 8 10 2)
The name is a compound of ἀγα- an intensive prefix and of the verb microήδοmicroαι to plan a project to have in mind and
means therefore one who thinks a lot Also attested in the feminine Agamede (Ἀγαmicroήδη in Hom Il 11 740-741)
daughter of Augeias and wife of Moulios a sorceress skilled in drugs and poisons
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαmicroέmicroνωνAGAMEMNONSon of Atreus brother of Menelaos husband of Clytaimnestra supreme commander of the Achaean army in the Trojan
War (Hom Il passim)
The name is a compound of ἀγα- an intensive prefix the second part of the compound presents some uncertainties It
has been hypothesized that it is based on -microέδmicroων a derivative of microέδοmicroαι to command (Carnoy DEMGR maintains
such a hypothesis) according to Kretschmer (Glotta 3 1912 p 330) this interpretation is not acceptable Hamp
8
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(Glotta 49 1971 pp 21-24) supports the hypothesis already asserted by Heubeck (Gedenkschrift Brandenstein pp
357-61) that it derives from Ἀγα-microέν-microων with metathesis of νmicro gt microν the name would then derive from microένω to
resist with an expressive form of reduplication and would mean one who resists with vigor Van der Valk (in Snell
Lex fr Ep col 34) on the basis of analogy interprets it as an extremely energetic man full of vigor
Category Names of heroes
ἈγανίππηAGANIPPE1 Daughter of Termessos god of the river that flows around Helicon (Pausan 9 29 5 2) and so a Naiad the eponym
of the spring that flows out near the grove of the Muses on Mt Helicon in Boeotia later identified with the fountain
Hippocrene perhaps made to flow by the hoof of the winged horse Pegasos (Verg Eclog 10 12 Ovid Metam 5
262-263 Pausan 9 31 3-4) 2 As an alternative to Eurydike 2 (Schol ad Apollon Rhod 4 1091) she would be the
wife of Acrisius the mother of Danae and grandmother of Perseus Hygin Fab 63 3 A daughter of Aigyptos sacrificed
on the altar of the apotropaic gods in the late account of Ps Plut de fluviis 16 1 4 There exists a late masculine
form Ἀγάνιππος Trojan warrior killed by Ajax along with many companions in a non-Homeric tradition (Quint Smyrn
Posthom 3 227-231)
A compound of the adjective ἀγανός sweet soft and ἵππος mare it could mean tame mare
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ἈγαπήνωρAGAPENORSon of Ankaios and Io leader of the Arcadian contingent who came to the Trojan War from Tegea (Hom Il 2 609 ss)
The name is a compound of the verb ἀγαπάω to love and ἀνήρ man it could mean one who loves men or one
who loves manly courage Cf other personal names such as Ἀντ- ήνωρ Βι- ήνωρ Ἐλεφ- ήνωρ Πεισ- ήνωρ where
the nominal part of the compound seems to be particularly ἀνήρ while for Ὑπερ- ήνωρ the predominant sense is
apparently that of ἠνορέη manly courage which is also found in numerous adjectival compounds
Category Names of heroes
ἈγασθένηςAGASTHENESSon of Augeias brother of Phyleus and father of Polyxeinos who was commander of ten of the 40 ships in the contingent
sent from Elis (Hom Il 2 615-624) and who also appears in the catalog of the suitors of Helen Polyxeinos would
return safe and sound from Troy and would father a son by the name of Amphimachos 3 (Pausan 5 3 4)
9
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
A name easily interpreted it is a compound of the intensive prefix ἀγα- and -σθένος strength very productive in
Greek personal names and so means endowed with great strength (von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 31 a
2 p 89) cf Demosthenes Eurysthenes Megasthenes etc
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάστροφοςAGASTROPHOSIn Homer a Trojan warrior the son of Paion killed by Diomedes by a blow of a spear to the buttocks while fighting
in the front lines on foot after having foolishly separated himself from his chariot and his charioteer (Hom Il 11
338-342 368 Diomedes was struck on the foot by a arrow while trying to strip him of his armor 11 373 cfr Scholia
ad l Eustath 320712 ad l Etym Gudianum 235 15 s v Ἠγαθέη in a compound with ἀγα-)
Wathelet (Dictionnaire des Troyens n 5 pp 148-149) attempts to link this personal name and the military event in
which he is involved ineffectually It may mean des sehr Wendige that is very nimble in movement (von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 22 a 1 p 71) cfr Epistrophos impetuous in attack) so one who turns aggressively
against the enemy from the prefix ἀγα- active in many compounds and the verb στρέφω rotate turn spin
around Less probable (but possible) is he who knows how to turn a chariot in excellent fashion
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάθωνAGATHONSon of Priam cited only once in the last book of Hom Il 24 with the epithet δῖος ldquoillustriousrdquo with eight of his
brothers and half-brothers he was reproached by his elderly father who impatiently waited to have his chariot prepared
so that he could go to reclaim the body of Hector
A simple formation with the suffix -ων from the adjective ἀγαθός goodly capable with recessive accent
Mycenaean recognizes a genitive a-ka-ta-jo-jo (PY En 659) which can be rendered as Ἀγαθαῖος (but also as Ἀκταῖος)
It does not seem necessary to consider it a hypocorism for Agathocles or Agathodoros (Wathelet Dictionnaire des
Troyens I p 147) the name is in any case very common in Greek and it is one of the many examples of entirely
Greek personal names in the Trojan camp
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαυήAGAVEDaughter of Kadmos and of Harmonia mother of Pentheus (Hes Theog 975 ss Eurip Bacch passim) sister of Semele
Ino and Autonoe Another Agave less well-known appears among the Nereids (Hom Il 18 42)
10
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from ἀγαυός admirable noble illustrious an adjective related to the verb ἄγαmicroαι to admire
marvel at (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγαυός)
ἈγέλαοςAGELAOSA rather popular name in Homer we find 1 a Greek officer who was killed along with eight other commanders
(ἡγεmicroόνες) by Hektor in Hom Il 11 301-304 2 a Trojan warrior son of Phradmon the first to have been killed by
Diomedes who after having crossed the ditch with his horses stabbed him with a javelin between his shoulders forcing
it through his chest and making him fall from his chariot in his armor (Hom Il 8 253-260) 3 a slave of Priam who was
charged by the king with exposing Paris on mount Ida but shortly afterwards he was moved by pity and raised the baby
as his own Apollod Bibl 3 12 5 (149-150) 4 one of the suitors of Penelope son of Damastor who tried to convince
Telemachos to agree to allow him to marry his mother (Hom Od 20 321 ss) He urged on Melanthius and other to exit
the hall and raise the alarm during the slaughter of the suitors (Od 22 131 136 212) and was killed by Odysseus with
a spear-blow (Od 22 292-293) 5 son of Herakles and of Omphale ancestor of the kings of Lydia Apollod Bibl 2 7
8 (165) 6 son of Oineus king of Calydon and brother of Meleagros Antonin Lib Metam 2
A compound of the verb ἄγω ldquoto guide leadrdquo and of the substantive λαός ldquopeople in armsrdquo analogous to Agenor
it is perhaps already attested in the Mycenaean a-ke-ra-wo KN Vc 316 (also read Ἀρχέλαος) where there exists also
the nomen agentis ra-wa-ke-ta (PY Un 718 9 etc) usually interpreted as λαϜ-αγέτας ldquoleader of armed troopsrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈγήνωρAGENOR1 Son of Poseidon and Libya and father of Europa Kadmos Phoinix and Cilix (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4 3 1) and
descendant of Argive Io 2 Among other characters with this name there is a Trojan hero son of Antenor frequently
mentioned in the Iliad (21 544-599 e passim)
The name means ldquohe who leads the men valiantrdquo as it is a compound of ἄγω ldquoto leadrdquo and of ἀνήρ man By
contrast Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 32) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 99) maintain that
the first part of the name is the intensive prefix ἀγα- and that the name means ldquoextremely manly courageousrdquo The
first interpretation seems preferable by far because compounds in ἀγα- are most often formed from verbs (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens de lIliade p 154)
Category Names of heroes
ἈγλαίαAGLAIAName of one of the Graces or Charites (Hes Theog 69 907 ss)
11
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It is derived from the adjective ἀγλαός illustrious shining and means she who displays radiance beauty
Category Names of gods
ἌγριοςAGRIOS1 A giant who was killed along with Thoas by the Moirai in the Gigantomachy when these two sons of Gaia fought
against the gods (Apollod Bibl 1 6 2) 2 Son of Portheus and brother of Oineus (king of Calydon in Aitolia grandfather
of Diomedes) and of Melas with whom he lived in Pleuron (Hom Il 14 116-118) He had six children including
Thersites who deposed Oineus in favor of their own father before departing for the Trojan War (Apollod Bibl 1 8 68)
According to Hyginus after the fall of the city Diomedes learned that his grandfather had been deposed and ousted
Agrios who committed suicide because of it (Hygin Fab 175 242 and Antonin Lib Metam 37 1) 3 Centaur that
Heracles drove off by throwing red-hot coals at him when he drawn by the smell of wine rushed to the wine-jar of
Pholos which had been opened during the heros fourth labor when he was passing through Arcadia (Apollod Bibl 2 5
4) 4 Brother of Oreios he was a Thracian giant born of Polyphonte and a bear he and his brother would haul strangers
off and devour them He was transformed by the gods into a vulture to punish him for his cruel bestiality (Antonin Lib
Metam 21) 5 Son of Circe and Odysseus brother of Latinos and of Telegonos (Hes Theog 1011-1014)
Derived directly from the adjective ἄγριος uncultivated or not domesticated even savage violent Von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 4 b 1 p 14 compares it to the compound Μελέαγρος not coincidentally his nephew
Since the countryside as an uncultivated area is normally fitting for activity connected to hunting one could easily
explain that the term ἄγριος could mean either ldquohe who nurtures the landrdquo (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγρός) or ldquohe
who hunts in an uncultivated areardquo
Category Names of heroes
ἌγρωνAGRONName of an inhabitant of the island of Cos who along with his sisters Byssa and Meropis worshiped only the Earth and
insulted the other gods who in revenge transformed him into a plover (Anton Lib Met 15 from Boios Ornithogonia)
It possibly derives from ἀγρός field land and means something like lover of fields man of the country
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Transformation
ΑἴαςAIAS (AJAX)Name of two Homeric heroes 1 the son of Oileus of Locris (Hom Il 13 46 23 754) 2 the son of Telamon king
of Salamis (Hom Il 2 553 7 183) he killed himself by falling on his sword cf Sophocles tragedy Aias which is
dedicated to him
Various theories have been proposed as to how to interpret this name 1) already in antiquity it was connected to
αἰετός eagle (Hes Fr 250 = Schol ad Pind Isth 6 53 Apollod Bibl 3 12 7) a complete invention 2) it could be
related to αἶα land (Chantraine DELG von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 168 Van der Valk in Snell Lex
12
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
fr Ep col 232) and would mean man of the earth or the descendant of Aia 3) already attested in Mycenaean ai-
wa (Kn Np 973) perhaps as a bovine name it could be interpreted as a hypocorism of Αἴολος alive from the Indo-
European aiu+unt- he who has dynamic strength vigorous (Muumlhlestein Studi Micenei 2 1967 pp 41-52 Carnoy
DEMGR and von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 368)
Category Names of heroes
ἈλέκτωρALEKTORName of different figures including 1) the son of Anaxagoras (Apollod Bibl 3 6 2) 2) the son of Epeios (Diod Sic
4 69) 3) the son of Argeios grandson of Pelops he is the father of Iphiloche or Echemela (Schol ad Hom Od 4 10)
whom Menelaos gave in matrimony to Megapenthes 4) the father of the Argonaut Leitos (Apollod Bibl 1 9 16)
Already attested in Mycenaean a-re-ko-to-re (KN Ce 1521) it is a nomen agentis in -τωρ from the verb ἀλέκω ldquoto
defend repelrdquo and thus means ldquothe defenderrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈλεκτρύωνALEKTRYONName of the sentry assigned by Ares to inform him about the approach of day while the god was occupied in his affair
with Aphrodite (Eustath ad Hom 1598 61) it is obviously an allusion to the cock-crow
It is attested in Mycenaean in the form A-re-ku-tu-ru-wo (PY An 6548) It means ldquoroosterrdquo and is formed from ἀλέκτωρ
ldquodefenderrdquo since it refers to a combative animal (Chantraine DELG s v ἀλέξω) Ruijgh (Minos 9 1968 p 153)
prefers to interpret it instead as a derivative of ἄλεκτρον a defensive implement
ἈλήτηςALETESSon of Hippotes descendant of Herakles born during the return of the Herakleidai (Pausan 2 4 4 5 18 8)
It means wanderer vagabond and is the nomen agentis of the verb ἀλάοmicroαι to wander (Chantraine DELG s v
ἀλάοmicroαι)
Category Names of heroes
ἈφροδίτηAPHRODITEGoddess of love (Hom Il 5 820 and passim Hymn Hom ad Ven Hes Theog 190 ff) born of the foam of the sea
and the genitals of Ouranos or according to another tradition of Zeus and Dione
She is a goddess of Near Eastern origin and later there arises a folk etymology that interprets the name as coming from
ἀφρός foam (Plat Crat 406 c) οὕνεκ ἐν ἀφρῷ θρέφθη (Hes Theog 197-198) The theory of Grimme (Glotta 14
1925 p 18) who proposes an association with the Semitic goddess of fertility Astoret has not been proven nor has
that of Hammarstroumlm (Glotta 11 1921 pp 214 ff) who compares this name with the pre-Indo-European πρύτανις
13
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Etruscan (e)pr ni this latter hypothesis is also maintained by Carnoy (DEMGR) but with the help of Pelasgian phonology
according to which p would become ph
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ἈθήνηATHENAA goddess daughter of Zeus and Metis born from the head of the god (Hes Theog 886 ss)
This name is already attested in Mycenaean in the form of a-ta-na-po-ti-ni-ja (KN V 521 52 bis) and is difficult to
explain Carnoy (DEMGR) supports the Pelasgic hypothesis of Van Windekens (Le Peacutelasgique pp 40-41) according to
whom the initial Ath- is a Pelasgic form of the Indo-European at-no Sanskrit atta mother with the change t gt th
but Athena does not have maternal characteristics in the historical period It is possible that it is a pre-Hellenic name
(cfr van der Valk in Snell Lex fr Ep col 208)
Category Names of gods
ΒαῖοςBAIOS or BAEUSHelmsman of Odysseus whose name was supposedly given to various places for instance a mountain on the island of
Cephalonia and the town of Baia in Campania (Strab 1 p 26 5 p 245 Lycophr Alex 694) The name only occurs in
the post-classical period and does not appear in the Homeric poems
The name apparently derives from βαιός short unimportant with the recessive accent often found with
anthroponyms
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΒαλίοςBALIOS or BALIUSOne of the two immortal horses of Achilles (Xanthus) son of Zephyrus and the Harpy Podarge who was given to Peleus
by Poseidon perhaps on the occasion of Peleusrsquo wedding to Thetis The third horse of Achilles team was Pedasus who
was killed in battle 2 The horse of Celmis (or Schelmis) beaten in a race by the mare of Erechtheus named Podarce
(Nonn Dionys 37 334-337) 3 One of the dogs of Actaeon in Apollod Bibl 33 4 4
With a recessive accent Baliacuteos is simply derived from βαλιός speckled spotted
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασίλειαBASILEIAEldest daughter of Uranus and Titaia who distinguished herself from her sisters through her wisdom and intelligence she
married her brother Hyperion and gave birth to Selene and Helios (Diod Sic 3 57 who reports a non-Greek tradition)
14
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means queen ending in the suffix -y - Its origin is probably as a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v
βασιλεύς) from Mycenean qa-si-re-u
Category Names of gods
ΒασιλίσκοςBASILISKA serpent of small size no more than twelve inches long (about a handrsquos length) marked by a white spot on the head
is also distinguished from other snakes by traveling upright rather than slithering (erectus in medio incedens Plin
Nat Hist 8 33 78 Aelian Hist anim 2 5)One is tempted to identify it with the cobra Lucan (Bell Civ 724-26)
mentioned its death-bringing hiss including it in his comprehensive catalogue of snakes to which Dante alludes in the
Circle of Hell dedicated to thieves (Inf 24 85 ff) Not only its touch but its breath is destructive wherever it appears
(exurit herbas rumpit saxa) Its venom can pass through objects if it is true that one time as Pliny says a rider and
his horse were destroyed by poison traveling up the long spear used for killing the serpent cf also Aelian Nat anim 2
5 The power of its gaze is terrible anyone who meets it dies The only way to look upon it is ithrough the reflection of
a mirror just as Perseus had done with Medusa from whose blood all the reptiles of Libya arose (Lucan Bell Civ 696
ff) Alexander the Great during his campaign in India to defeat the horrible creature (cf Leo Neapol Hist de prelis
Alex Magni rec I 3 p 320 sec X) used the stratagem of putting mirrors on the shields of his soldiers The basiliskrsquos
mortal enemies are the weasel and the cock the first kills him with its own smell (Plin Nat hist 8 33 79) the
second protected travelers who passed through Libya (Aelian Nat anim 3 31) In Late Antique and Medieval bestiaries
its nature is linked to that of its enemy the cock it too can go on all fours or can assume plumage while keeping a
reptilian tail thus arose the basilgallo (basilicock in Chaucer) In the Middle Ages it had a negative connotation at
times relating it to the Devil (or Antichrist) to the sinner or heresy To St Antony of Padua (Sermoni) it represented
wrath Cecco dAscoli who was burned at the stake in 1327 on the charge of sorcery records that the basilisk is the
Lord of serpents (Acerba 30) The preconception has biblical roots Isaiah (59 5) mentions a poisonous reptile the
Hebrew tsepha that in the translation of the Septuagint became βασιλίσκος and in the Vulgate basiliscus It likewise
occurs in Jeremiah 8 17 and in Psalms 91 13 Modern translations more cautiously prefers asp viper serpent
The etymology is simple βασιλίσκος diminutive of βασιλεύς (a word already attested in Mycenaean qa-si-re-u)
means little king lat basiliscus and regulus designating the king of the serpents due to its terrible powers in
spite of its small size
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασσάραBASSARAName of a Thracian Bacchant (Athen 5 7 p 198)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means fox but also suggests the clothing of the Thracian bacchants which were made from fox pelts it
is a term derived from a loan word perhaps linked to the cult of Dionysus (Chantraine DELG s v) cf the verb ἀνα-
βασσαρέω Anacr fr 11 6 (356) PMG to revel Braccini T Glotta 86 2010 pp 7-21
ΒάτωνBATONA Theban the relative and charioteer of Amphiaraus He was swallowed up along with him into a chasm that opened
in the earth in front of Thebes (Pausan 2 23 2 5 17 8 10 10 3)
The name may come from βάτος bramble and may mean bramble or one who inhabits the bramble
Category Names of heroes
ΒάττοςBATTUSThe name of an old man transformed into a rock by Hermes because he did not keep secret the theft of Apollos cattle
(Anton Lib Met 23) A more widely known character with this name is the founder of Cyrene the son of Polymnestus
and Phronima (Herodot 4 145 ff Callim Hymn 2 65 Pausan 3 14 3 10 15 6-7)
The name belongs to the family of the verb βατταρίζω to stutter and means the stutterer they are onomatopoetic
terms According to Herodotus (4 145 ff) it could signify king in Libyan Masson (Glotta 54 1976 pp 84-98) favors
the first interpretation since the words of Herodotus are general and we lack information on South-Eastern Libyan
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΒαυβώBAUBOEleusinian wife of Dysaules received Demeter into her home and tried to cheer her up by lifting her dress and exposing
herself to Demeter (Clem Alex Protr 2 21)
The name is derived from the colloquial verb βαυβάω to sleep but also took on the meaning of female sex A less
acceptable suggestion of Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 73) is a derivation from βαΰζω to murmur or from
πραΰνω to soothe which according to him are applicable to a governess
Category Female names
ΒαῦκιςBAUCISA Phrygian woman who together with her husband Philemon welcomed Zeus and Hermes they sent a flood upon all
the other villagers who had not welcomed them but transformed these two into trees and their hut into a temple
(Ovid Met 8 616-715)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from βαυκός soft tender a folk word of uncertain etymology (Chantraine DELG) Room (Rooms
Classical Dictionary p 73) believes that it may have the same source as Baubo and in particular may be explained in
connection with πραΰνω to calm but such hypotheses are groundless
Category Female names
Theme Transformation
ΒελλεροφόντηςBELLEROPHONSon of Poseidon and the daughter of the king of Megara Iobates after he received a request from Proteus to kill the
hero commanded Bellerophon to slay the Chimera believing that this could not be done then sent him against the
Solymi the Amazons and Lydians until he recognized his divine nature (Hom Il 6 155-205 216-26)
Already in antiquity the name was interpreted as slayer of Belleros from the verb θείνω to slay that often appears
in the second part of compounds in the form -φόντης According to Kretschmer (Glotta 24 1936 pp 237-38 e 273
31 1951 pp 92 ff) this is an acceptable interpretation considering that Belleros is the name of a local demon On the
other hand Malten (Hermes 79 1944 pp 10 ff) views as a conjecture derived from popular imagination According
to Chantraine (DELG) supported also by Carnoy (DEMGR) Heubecks suggestion (Beitr Namenf 5 1954 pp 25-28)
that the name means full of strength being a compound of an Indo-European derivative bel- strength and ghwen
to swell up with cannot be proven
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΒῆλοςBELOSThe name of one of the two twin sons of the nymph Libya and Poseidon (the other was called Agenor) grandsons of
Epaphus (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4)
The name derives from the Semitic name of the god Baal Bel (Bernhard in Roscher Myth Lex I col 778)
Category Names of heroes
ΒιάνωρBIANORSon of the Tiber and the nymph Manto he founded the city of Mantua (Serv ad Verg Ecl 9 60)
This name is a compound of βιάω to tame to defeat and of ἀνήρ man and thus means he who forcefully tames
heroes Alternatively Pape- Benseler (WGE) translate it as a hard cruel violent man
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΒιήνωρBIENORTrojan captain with a Greek name called ποιmicroὴν λαῶν shepherd of people mentioned only once in Hom Il 11
92-93 when he was killed and stripped of his arms by Agamemnon together with his companion in arms and charioteer
Oileus
With the verbal sense of βια- it means ldquohe who with force dominates the enemy herordquo cf Bianor (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens I p 372-374) Elephenor Elpenor
Category Names of heroes
ΒορέαςBOREASGod of the North Wind the son of Eos and Astraeus brother of Zephyrus and Notus (Hes Theog 378)
One theory is that it means wind from the mountain related to Sanskrit giriacute- Avestan gairi- and ancient Slavic gora
mountain (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of gods
ΒῶροςBOROSBORUS1 Mentioned in Homer as the father of Phaestus Hom Il 5 44 he lived in Tarne Maeonia in the region of Smyrna
2 Another Borus in Homer (Il 16 177-178) son of Perieres was married to Polydora in Phthia Thessaly Polydora the
daughter of Peleus and Antigone 2 (Apollod Bibl 3 13 1) had a son Menesthius actually fathered by the river god
Spercheus (Il 16 173-176) 3 Son of Penthilus a descendant of Nestor grandson of Periclymenus had a son named
Andropompus who was the father of Melanthus who was expelled by the Hereclidae (Pausan 2 18 8)
The name probably is not Greek hence it is pointless to search for an explanation (as Pape-Benseler have done s v) by
resorting to the Hesychian gloss Βωροί ὀφθαλmicroοί eyes (Frisk GEW s v) Possibly related to the Βωρεῖς the name
of a tribe in Cyzicus (von Kamptz Homerische Personenn sect 81 pp 322)
Category Names of heroes
ΒουφάγοςBOUPHAGUSArcadian hero son of Iapetos and of Thornax killed by Artemis while chasing her on Mt Pholoe (Pausan 8 14 9 27 17)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of βοῦς ldquooxrdquo and the aorist φαγεῖν of the verb ἐσθίω ldquoto eatrdquo it therefore means ldquoeater
of oxenrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ΒούτηςBOUTESBUTESName of various people including 1 A son of Boreas father of Hippodamia (Diod Sic 4 70) who tried to kill his
half-brother Licurgus and once discovered fled from Thessaly to Naxos where he became a pirate (Diod Sic 5 50)
2 Another was the son of the king of Athens Pandion and Zeuxippe (Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) brother of Procne and
Philomela founder of the hereditary priesthood of the Athenian Eteobutadai 3 A third son of Teleon participated
in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 4 912-19) He was the only one who threw himself into the sea
after he heard the song of the Sirens overwhelmed by the song of Orpheus He was saved by Aphrodite and afterwards
founded the colony of Lilybaeum near Eryx on Sicily
Derived from βούς cow and simply means cowherd
Category Names of heroes
ΒουζύγηςBOUZYGESA mythical character to whom the invention of the yoke is attributed (Serv ad Verg Georg 1 19 Hesych s v)
The name is a simple compound of βούς cow and the verb ζεύγνυmicroι to join and therefore means yoker of cows
Category Names of heroes
ΒράγχοςBRANCHUSSon of Smycrus a hero orginally from Delphi but who settled in Miletus before his birth his mother had a vision of the
sun descending into her mouth passing through her body and out of her vulva He was beloved by Apollo who gave
him the gift of prophecy (Conon Narr 33)
The name derives from the adjective βραγχός hoarse a technical term whose etymology is not clear one could
perhaps compare old Irish brong(a)ide hoarseness (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ΒρέmicroουσαBREMUSAAccording to a late poem (IV cent CE) she is one of the 12 Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy Quint
Smyrn Posthom 1 43 she is killed by Idomeneus with a stroke of his spear to her right breast
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
20
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
21
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
22
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
23
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
24
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
25
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
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Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
37
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
38
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
DELG s v) do not seem very convincing Less suspect might be its connection to the adjective ἀχερωίς river of white
poplar trees (Carnoy DEMGR s v) But the etymology remains uncertain
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ἈχιλλεύςACHILLESName of the son of Peleus and Thetis father of Pyrrhus Neoptolemus (Hom Il passim)
Already in Mycenaean in the form a-ki-re-u (KN Vc 106) The etymology is not clear but different hypotheses have been
made 1) According to Apollodorus (Bibl 3136 Schol ad Lycophr 178 etc) the hero was so named by Chiron his lips
had never tasted the milk of Thetis and so the name would be from ἀ- privative and χείλη lip 2) It could be a pre-
Hellenic name (Bosshardt Die Nomina auf -εύς par 444 and Nordheider in Snell Lex fr Ep col 1754) 3) It could be
from ἄχος pain through a form ἄχιλος as ὄργιλος derives from ὀργή (Kretschmer Glotta 4 1915 pp 305-308)
it could also be a hypochoristic of Ἀχι-λάος again from ἄχος but with λάος people (Palmer Interpretation p 79)
he whose people has pain Nagy (The Best of the Achaeans pp 69-71) agrees with this hypothesis considering such
a name to accord well with the heros fortunes Holland (Glotta 71 1993 pp 17-27) criticizes Nagys interpretation
on various grounds and prefers to take the first part of the name as a verb meaning frighten given the connection of
ἄχος with terms in other Indo-European languages meaning terror fear thus the name would mean he who frightens
the army 4) According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the figure is a water divinity his name deriving from Indo-European aqwa
through Pelasgic - a highly unlikely derivation
Category Names of heroes
ἈδάmicroαςADAMASTrojan warrior who participated in the assault on the Greeks wall at Troy while fighting alongside his father King
Asios 2 (hence the patronymic Ἀσιάδης) and a group of companions that included Iamenos an Orestes Thoon and
an Oinomaos (Hom Il 12 137-140) After his attempt to kill Antilochos unsuccessful thanks to the intervention of
Poseidon who rendered Adamas weapon harmless he was himself hit with a spear in the lower abdomen by the Cretan
Meriones ending his life (Hom Il 13 560-574) He was with other heroes searched for by Hector who learned of
his death from Paris (Hom Il 13 754-773)
A proper name derived from the common substantive ἀδάmicroας (Hes Theog 161 [Hes] Scut 137) steel it is a
compound of the privative prefix α- and of the root δάmicro- a participle in -ντ here in the passive sense The root is also
very productive in the active sense throughout Greek onomastics (cf Laodamas Iphidamas Chersidamas Eurydamas
Polydamas) It therefore means indomitable unbeatable (Wathelet Dictionnaire des Troyens n 9 pp 167-170) For
the meaning it is possible to compare Acamas indefatigable (Ἀκάmicroας from α- and κάmicroνω work hard suffer)
with whom Adamas is found with some frequency In its formation it is also related to compounds in -τλα (see Atlas
Von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 28 a 1 p 83 sect 63 a 1 p 166) Only in Latin is there also attested the
6
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
feminine form Adamanteia (non-existent in Greek) a reading that was found in the first editions of Hyg Fab 139 but
which should obviously be corrected to Amalthea
Category Names of heroes
ἈδαmicroάστωρADAMASTORA huge monster as big as the Colossus of Rhodes that appeared to Vasco de Gama and the Portuguese fleet near the
Cape of Good Hope foretelling disaster Probably invented by Camotildees Lusiacuteadas 5 st 41-51 on classical models He is
referred to as the companion of Enceladus Aegaeon and of the other Giants who fought against the gods Interrogated
by the leader of the expedition he tells of his own unhappy love for the wife of Peleus Thetis who tricked him with an
apparition of herself for which he was transformed into the rock of the Cape of Good Hope (Lus st 52-60) This figure
is almost totally unknown to Greek and Roman mythology which refers to a giant Damastor (Claudian Gigant 101-103)
while one Adamasthor is listed among the other giants only in Sidon Apollin Carm 1520 (sec V- inizi VI dev)
The name is a nomen agentis formed with the suffix -τωρ from the verbal adjective ἀδαmicroαστός which means
unconquerable unconquered used frequently of young women who have not had sexual relations with a man (from
ἀ- privativo e δαmicro- δάmicroνηmicroι δαmicroάω) It seems to be constructed by analogy with Alagravestor Phobegravetor and would mean
that is unconquerable implacable The adjective ἀδαmicroάστωρ (v l ἀδαmicroάτωρ) is also found in Pap Mag IV 2717
in the sense of virgin said of Hecate
Category Names of gods
Theme Transformation
ἌδmicroητοςADMETUSKing of Pherai in Thessaly son of Pheretes husband of Alcestis (Apollod Bibl 1 8 2 9 16) He participated in the
Calydonian Boar Hunt and in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 1 49-50)
This name is derived from the verbal adjective of δάmicroνηmicroι conquer with privative ἀ- and so means unconquered
There is attested also the feminine Admeta (Ἀδmicroήτη) an Argive priestess daughter of Eurystheus (Pausan 8 4 4)
ἌδωνιςADONISBorn of Myrrharsquos incestuous love for her father Cinyras king of Cyprus His mother was transformed into the tree that
bears her name and the extraordinarily beautiful baby was raised by Aphrodite and Persephone he was killed by a
boar spurred on against him by Artemis (Apollod Bibl 3 14 4) In a local version based in Syria the father had the
name Theias (Ant Lib Metam 34 5)
This name is certainly a Semitic loan-word in Hebrew there is the word adon master lord (Chantraine DELG
Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v p 23)
Theme Incest
7
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἌδραστοςADRASTOSName of the king of Argos that hosted Tydeus and Polyneices gave his daughters Argia and Deipyle to them as wives
and led them on the expedition against Thebes (Hom Il 2 572)
It could be that what we have is a verbal adjective of the verb δι-δράσκω flee with an ἀ privative- which would
mean he who does not try to flee (Chantraine DELG s v διδράσκω) if interpreted in the active sense or better
he to whom one cannot flee if it has a passive sense Wathelet (Dictionnaire des Troyens pp 170-171) however
maintains that it is difficult to justify the presence of σ since the root of δι-δράσκω is δρα- and not δρασ- it could
be foreign to Greek but it is a name firmly attested in Greece - see also the feminine Ἀδράστεια another name for
Nemesis (cf Aesch Prom 936) Perhaps then it is a pre-Hellenic name and the derivation from διδράσκω could be
owed to a folk etymology
Category Names of heroes
ἈγακλήςAGACLESFather of one of the Myrmidons who was king in the town of Budeion (perhaps in Thessaly or in Boeotia Eustath
Comm ad Il 16 570-574) he was succeeded by his son Epeigeus who went into exile for having killed a noble cousin
and was taken in as a guest by Peleus and Thetis in Phthia (Hom Il 16 570-571) but later perished at Troy at the
hands of Hector
A simple compound of the prefix ἀγα- and of κλέος it means extremely glorious of abundant glory cf Agathocles
Megacles Pericles
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαmicroήδηςAGAMEDESName of the architect the son of Stymphalos who with his sons Trophonios and Cercyon built many famous structures
in ancient Greece (Pausan 8 4 8 10 2)
The name is a compound of ἀγα- an intensive prefix and of the verb microήδοmicroαι to plan a project to have in mind and
means therefore one who thinks a lot Also attested in the feminine Agamede (Ἀγαmicroήδη in Hom Il 11 740-741)
daughter of Augeias and wife of Moulios a sorceress skilled in drugs and poisons
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαmicroέmicroνωνAGAMEMNONSon of Atreus brother of Menelaos husband of Clytaimnestra supreme commander of the Achaean army in the Trojan
War (Hom Il passim)
The name is a compound of ἀγα- an intensive prefix the second part of the compound presents some uncertainties It
has been hypothesized that it is based on -microέδmicroων a derivative of microέδοmicroαι to command (Carnoy DEMGR maintains
such a hypothesis) according to Kretschmer (Glotta 3 1912 p 330) this interpretation is not acceptable Hamp
8
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(Glotta 49 1971 pp 21-24) supports the hypothesis already asserted by Heubeck (Gedenkschrift Brandenstein pp
357-61) that it derives from Ἀγα-microέν-microων with metathesis of νmicro gt microν the name would then derive from microένω to
resist with an expressive form of reduplication and would mean one who resists with vigor Van der Valk (in Snell
Lex fr Ep col 34) on the basis of analogy interprets it as an extremely energetic man full of vigor
Category Names of heroes
ἈγανίππηAGANIPPE1 Daughter of Termessos god of the river that flows around Helicon (Pausan 9 29 5 2) and so a Naiad the eponym
of the spring that flows out near the grove of the Muses on Mt Helicon in Boeotia later identified with the fountain
Hippocrene perhaps made to flow by the hoof of the winged horse Pegasos (Verg Eclog 10 12 Ovid Metam 5
262-263 Pausan 9 31 3-4) 2 As an alternative to Eurydike 2 (Schol ad Apollon Rhod 4 1091) she would be the
wife of Acrisius the mother of Danae and grandmother of Perseus Hygin Fab 63 3 A daughter of Aigyptos sacrificed
on the altar of the apotropaic gods in the late account of Ps Plut de fluviis 16 1 4 There exists a late masculine
form Ἀγάνιππος Trojan warrior killed by Ajax along with many companions in a non-Homeric tradition (Quint Smyrn
Posthom 3 227-231)
A compound of the adjective ἀγανός sweet soft and ἵππος mare it could mean tame mare
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ἈγαπήνωρAGAPENORSon of Ankaios and Io leader of the Arcadian contingent who came to the Trojan War from Tegea (Hom Il 2 609 ss)
The name is a compound of the verb ἀγαπάω to love and ἀνήρ man it could mean one who loves men or one
who loves manly courage Cf other personal names such as Ἀντ- ήνωρ Βι- ήνωρ Ἐλεφ- ήνωρ Πεισ- ήνωρ where
the nominal part of the compound seems to be particularly ἀνήρ while for Ὑπερ- ήνωρ the predominant sense is
apparently that of ἠνορέη manly courage which is also found in numerous adjectival compounds
Category Names of heroes
ἈγασθένηςAGASTHENESSon of Augeias brother of Phyleus and father of Polyxeinos who was commander of ten of the 40 ships in the contingent
sent from Elis (Hom Il 2 615-624) and who also appears in the catalog of the suitors of Helen Polyxeinos would
return safe and sound from Troy and would father a son by the name of Amphimachos 3 (Pausan 5 3 4)
9
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
A name easily interpreted it is a compound of the intensive prefix ἀγα- and -σθένος strength very productive in
Greek personal names and so means endowed with great strength (von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 31 a
2 p 89) cf Demosthenes Eurysthenes Megasthenes etc
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάστροφοςAGASTROPHOSIn Homer a Trojan warrior the son of Paion killed by Diomedes by a blow of a spear to the buttocks while fighting
in the front lines on foot after having foolishly separated himself from his chariot and his charioteer (Hom Il 11
338-342 368 Diomedes was struck on the foot by a arrow while trying to strip him of his armor 11 373 cfr Scholia
ad l Eustath 320712 ad l Etym Gudianum 235 15 s v Ἠγαθέη in a compound with ἀγα-)
Wathelet (Dictionnaire des Troyens n 5 pp 148-149) attempts to link this personal name and the military event in
which he is involved ineffectually It may mean des sehr Wendige that is very nimble in movement (von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 22 a 1 p 71) cfr Epistrophos impetuous in attack) so one who turns aggressively
against the enemy from the prefix ἀγα- active in many compounds and the verb στρέφω rotate turn spin
around Less probable (but possible) is he who knows how to turn a chariot in excellent fashion
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάθωνAGATHONSon of Priam cited only once in the last book of Hom Il 24 with the epithet δῖος ldquoillustriousrdquo with eight of his
brothers and half-brothers he was reproached by his elderly father who impatiently waited to have his chariot prepared
so that he could go to reclaim the body of Hector
A simple formation with the suffix -ων from the adjective ἀγαθός goodly capable with recessive accent
Mycenaean recognizes a genitive a-ka-ta-jo-jo (PY En 659) which can be rendered as Ἀγαθαῖος (but also as Ἀκταῖος)
It does not seem necessary to consider it a hypocorism for Agathocles or Agathodoros (Wathelet Dictionnaire des
Troyens I p 147) the name is in any case very common in Greek and it is one of the many examples of entirely
Greek personal names in the Trojan camp
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαυήAGAVEDaughter of Kadmos and of Harmonia mother of Pentheus (Hes Theog 975 ss Eurip Bacch passim) sister of Semele
Ino and Autonoe Another Agave less well-known appears among the Nereids (Hom Il 18 42)
10
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from ἀγαυός admirable noble illustrious an adjective related to the verb ἄγαmicroαι to admire
marvel at (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγαυός)
ἈγέλαοςAGELAOSA rather popular name in Homer we find 1 a Greek officer who was killed along with eight other commanders
(ἡγεmicroόνες) by Hektor in Hom Il 11 301-304 2 a Trojan warrior son of Phradmon the first to have been killed by
Diomedes who after having crossed the ditch with his horses stabbed him with a javelin between his shoulders forcing
it through his chest and making him fall from his chariot in his armor (Hom Il 8 253-260) 3 a slave of Priam who was
charged by the king with exposing Paris on mount Ida but shortly afterwards he was moved by pity and raised the baby
as his own Apollod Bibl 3 12 5 (149-150) 4 one of the suitors of Penelope son of Damastor who tried to convince
Telemachos to agree to allow him to marry his mother (Hom Od 20 321 ss) He urged on Melanthius and other to exit
the hall and raise the alarm during the slaughter of the suitors (Od 22 131 136 212) and was killed by Odysseus with
a spear-blow (Od 22 292-293) 5 son of Herakles and of Omphale ancestor of the kings of Lydia Apollod Bibl 2 7
8 (165) 6 son of Oineus king of Calydon and brother of Meleagros Antonin Lib Metam 2
A compound of the verb ἄγω ldquoto guide leadrdquo and of the substantive λαός ldquopeople in armsrdquo analogous to Agenor
it is perhaps already attested in the Mycenaean a-ke-ra-wo KN Vc 316 (also read Ἀρχέλαος) where there exists also
the nomen agentis ra-wa-ke-ta (PY Un 718 9 etc) usually interpreted as λαϜ-αγέτας ldquoleader of armed troopsrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈγήνωρAGENOR1 Son of Poseidon and Libya and father of Europa Kadmos Phoinix and Cilix (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4 3 1) and
descendant of Argive Io 2 Among other characters with this name there is a Trojan hero son of Antenor frequently
mentioned in the Iliad (21 544-599 e passim)
The name means ldquohe who leads the men valiantrdquo as it is a compound of ἄγω ldquoto leadrdquo and of ἀνήρ man By
contrast Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 32) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 99) maintain that
the first part of the name is the intensive prefix ἀγα- and that the name means ldquoextremely manly courageousrdquo The
first interpretation seems preferable by far because compounds in ἀγα- are most often formed from verbs (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens de lIliade p 154)
Category Names of heroes
ἈγλαίαAGLAIAName of one of the Graces or Charites (Hes Theog 69 907 ss)
11
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It is derived from the adjective ἀγλαός illustrious shining and means she who displays radiance beauty
Category Names of gods
ἌγριοςAGRIOS1 A giant who was killed along with Thoas by the Moirai in the Gigantomachy when these two sons of Gaia fought
against the gods (Apollod Bibl 1 6 2) 2 Son of Portheus and brother of Oineus (king of Calydon in Aitolia grandfather
of Diomedes) and of Melas with whom he lived in Pleuron (Hom Il 14 116-118) He had six children including
Thersites who deposed Oineus in favor of their own father before departing for the Trojan War (Apollod Bibl 1 8 68)
According to Hyginus after the fall of the city Diomedes learned that his grandfather had been deposed and ousted
Agrios who committed suicide because of it (Hygin Fab 175 242 and Antonin Lib Metam 37 1) 3 Centaur that
Heracles drove off by throwing red-hot coals at him when he drawn by the smell of wine rushed to the wine-jar of
Pholos which had been opened during the heros fourth labor when he was passing through Arcadia (Apollod Bibl 2 5
4) 4 Brother of Oreios he was a Thracian giant born of Polyphonte and a bear he and his brother would haul strangers
off and devour them He was transformed by the gods into a vulture to punish him for his cruel bestiality (Antonin Lib
Metam 21) 5 Son of Circe and Odysseus brother of Latinos and of Telegonos (Hes Theog 1011-1014)
Derived directly from the adjective ἄγριος uncultivated or not domesticated even savage violent Von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 4 b 1 p 14 compares it to the compound Μελέαγρος not coincidentally his nephew
Since the countryside as an uncultivated area is normally fitting for activity connected to hunting one could easily
explain that the term ἄγριος could mean either ldquohe who nurtures the landrdquo (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγρός) or ldquohe
who hunts in an uncultivated areardquo
Category Names of heroes
ἌγρωνAGRONName of an inhabitant of the island of Cos who along with his sisters Byssa and Meropis worshiped only the Earth and
insulted the other gods who in revenge transformed him into a plover (Anton Lib Met 15 from Boios Ornithogonia)
It possibly derives from ἀγρός field land and means something like lover of fields man of the country
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Transformation
ΑἴαςAIAS (AJAX)Name of two Homeric heroes 1 the son of Oileus of Locris (Hom Il 13 46 23 754) 2 the son of Telamon king
of Salamis (Hom Il 2 553 7 183) he killed himself by falling on his sword cf Sophocles tragedy Aias which is
dedicated to him
Various theories have been proposed as to how to interpret this name 1) already in antiquity it was connected to
αἰετός eagle (Hes Fr 250 = Schol ad Pind Isth 6 53 Apollod Bibl 3 12 7) a complete invention 2) it could be
related to αἶα land (Chantraine DELG von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 168 Van der Valk in Snell Lex
12
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
fr Ep col 232) and would mean man of the earth or the descendant of Aia 3) already attested in Mycenaean ai-
wa (Kn Np 973) perhaps as a bovine name it could be interpreted as a hypocorism of Αἴολος alive from the Indo-
European aiu+unt- he who has dynamic strength vigorous (Muumlhlestein Studi Micenei 2 1967 pp 41-52 Carnoy
DEMGR and von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 368)
Category Names of heroes
ἈλέκτωρALEKTORName of different figures including 1) the son of Anaxagoras (Apollod Bibl 3 6 2) 2) the son of Epeios (Diod Sic
4 69) 3) the son of Argeios grandson of Pelops he is the father of Iphiloche or Echemela (Schol ad Hom Od 4 10)
whom Menelaos gave in matrimony to Megapenthes 4) the father of the Argonaut Leitos (Apollod Bibl 1 9 16)
Already attested in Mycenaean a-re-ko-to-re (KN Ce 1521) it is a nomen agentis in -τωρ from the verb ἀλέκω ldquoto
defend repelrdquo and thus means ldquothe defenderrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈλεκτρύωνALEKTRYONName of the sentry assigned by Ares to inform him about the approach of day while the god was occupied in his affair
with Aphrodite (Eustath ad Hom 1598 61) it is obviously an allusion to the cock-crow
It is attested in Mycenaean in the form A-re-ku-tu-ru-wo (PY An 6548) It means ldquoroosterrdquo and is formed from ἀλέκτωρ
ldquodefenderrdquo since it refers to a combative animal (Chantraine DELG s v ἀλέξω) Ruijgh (Minos 9 1968 p 153)
prefers to interpret it instead as a derivative of ἄλεκτρον a defensive implement
ἈλήτηςALETESSon of Hippotes descendant of Herakles born during the return of the Herakleidai (Pausan 2 4 4 5 18 8)
It means wanderer vagabond and is the nomen agentis of the verb ἀλάοmicroαι to wander (Chantraine DELG s v
ἀλάοmicroαι)
Category Names of heroes
ἈφροδίτηAPHRODITEGoddess of love (Hom Il 5 820 and passim Hymn Hom ad Ven Hes Theog 190 ff) born of the foam of the sea
and the genitals of Ouranos or according to another tradition of Zeus and Dione
She is a goddess of Near Eastern origin and later there arises a folk etymology that interprets the name as coming from
ἀφρός foam (Plat Crat 406 c) οὕνεκ ἐν ἀφρῷ θρέφθη (Hes Theog 197-198) The theory of Grimme (Glotta 14
1925 p 18) who proposes an association with the Semitic goddess of fertility Astoret has not been proven nor has
that of Hammarstroumlm (Glotta 11 1921 pp 214 ff) who compares this name with the pre-Indo-European πρύτανις
13
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Etruscan (e)pr ni this latter hypothesis is also maintained by Carnoy (DEMGR) but with the help of Pelasgian phonology
according to which p would become ph
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ἈθήνηATHENAA goddess daughter of Zeus and Metis born from the head of the god (Hes Theog 886 ss)
This name is already attested in Mycenaean in the form of a-ta-na-po-ti-ni-ja (KN V 521 52 bis) and is difficult to
explain Carnoy (DEMGR) supports the Pelasgic hypothesis of Van Windekens (Le Peacutelasgique pp 40-41) according to
whom the initial Ath- is a Pelasgic form of the Indo-European at-no Sanskrit atta mother with the change t gt th
but Athena does not have maternal characteristics in the historical period It is possible that it is a pre-Hellenic name
(cfr van der Valk in Snell Lex fr Ep col 208)
Category Names of gods
ΒαῖοςBAIOS or BAEUSHelmsman of Odysseus whose name was supposedly given to various places for instance a mountain on the island of
Cephalonia and the town of Baia in Campania (Strab 1 p 26 5 p 245 Lycophr Alex 694) The name only occurs in
the post-classical period and does not appear in the Homeric poems
The name apparently derives from βαιός short unimportant with the recessive accent often found with
anthroponyms
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΒαλίοςBALIOS or BALIUSOne of the two immortal horses of Achilles (Xanthus) son of Zephyrus and the Harpy Podarge who was given to Peleus
by Poseidon perhaps on the occasion of Peleusrsquo wedding to Thetis The third horse of Achilles team was Pedasus who
was killed in battle 2 The horse of Celmis (or Schelmis) beaten in a race by the mare of Erechtheus named Podarce
(Nonn Dionys 37 334-337) 3 One of the dogs of Actaeon in Apollod Bibl 33 4 4
With a recessive accent Baliacuteos is simply derived from βαλιός speckled spotted
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασίλειαBASILEIAEldest daughter of Uranus and Titaia who distinguished herself from her sisters through her wisdom and intelligence she
married her brother Hyperion and gave birth to Selene and Helios (Diod Sic 3 57 who reports a non-Greek tradition)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means queen ending in the suffix -y - Its origin is probably as a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v
βασιλεύς) from Mycenean qa-si-re-u
Category Names of gods
ΒασιλίσκοςBASILISKA serpent of small size no more than twelve inches long (about a handrsquos length) marked by a white spot on the head
is also distinguished from other snakes by traveling upright rather than slithering (erectus in medio incedens Plin
Nat Hist 8 33 78 Aelian Hist anim 2 5)One is tempted to identify it with the cobra Lucan (Bell Civ 724-26)
mentioned its death-bringing hiss including it in his comprehensive catalogue of snakes to which Dante alludes in the
Circle of Hell dedicated to thieves (Inf 24 85 ff) Not only its touch but its breath is destructive wherever it appears
(exurit herbas rumpit saxa) Its venom can pass through objects if it is true that one time as Pliny says a rider and
his horse were destroyed by poison traveling up the long spear used for killing the serpent cf also Aelian Nat anim 2
5 The power of its gaze is terrible anyone who meets it dies The only way to look upon it is ithrough the reflection of
a mirror just as Perseus had done with Medusa from whose blood all the reptiles of Libya arose (Lucan Bell Civ 696
ff) Alexander the Great during his campaign in India to defeat the horrible creature (cf Leo Neapol Hist de prelis
Alex Magni rec I 3 p 320 sec X) used the stratagem of putting mirrors on the shields of his soldiers The basiliskrsquos
mortal enemies are the weasel and the cock the first kills him with its own smell (Plin Nat hist 8 33 79) the
second protected travelers who passed through Libya (Aelian Nat anim 3 31) In Late Antique and Medieval bestiaries
its nature is linked to that of its enemy the cock it too can go on all fours or can assume plumage while keeping a
reptilian tail thus arose the basilgallo (basilicock in Chaucer) In the Middle Ages it had a negative connotation at
times relating it to the Devil (or Antichrist) to the sinner or heresy To St Antony of Padua (Sermoni) it represented
wrath Cecco dAscoli who was burned at the stake in 1327 on the charge of sorcery records that the basilisk is the
Lord of serpents (Acerba 30) The preconception has biblical roots Isaiah (59 5) mentions a poisonous reptile the
Hebrew tsepha that in the translation of the Septuagint became βασιλίσκος and in the Vulgate basiliscus It likewise
occurs in Jeremiah 8 17 and in Psalms 91 13 Modern translations more cautiously prefers asp viper serpent
The etymology is simple βασιλίσκος diminutive of βασιλεύς (a word already attested in Mycenaean qa-si-re-u)
means little king lat basiliscus and regulus designating the king of the serpents due to its terrible powers in
spite of its small size
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασσάραBASSARAName of a Thracian Bacchant (Athen 5 7 p 198)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means fox but also suggests the clothing of the Thracian bacchants which were made from fox pelts it
is a term derived from a loan word perhaps linked to the cult of Dionysus (Chantraine DELG s v) cf the verb ἀνα-
βασσαρέω Anacr fr 11 6 (356) PMG to revel Braccini T Glotta 86 2010 pp 7-21
ΒάτωνBATONA Theban the relative and charioteer of Amphiaraus He was swallowed up along with him into a chasm that opened
in the earth in front of Thebes (Pausan 2 23 2 5 17 8 10 10 3)
The name may come from βάτος bramble and may mean bramble or one who inhabits the bramble
Category Names of heroes
ΒάττοςBATTUSThe name of an old man transformed into a rock by Hermes because he did not keep secret the theft of Apollos cattle
(Anton Lib Met 23) A more widely known character with this name is the founder of Cyrene the son of Polymnestus
and Phronima (Herodot 4 145 ff Callim Hymn 2 65 Pausan 3 14 3 10 15 6-7)
The name belongs to the family of the verb βατταρίζω to stutter and means the stutterer they are onomatopoetic
terms According to Herodotus (4 145 ff) it could signify king in Libyan Masson (Glotta 54 1976 pp 84-98) favors
the first interpretation since the words of Herodotus are general and we lack information on South-Eastern Libyan
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΒαυβώBAUBOEleusinian wife of Dysaules received Demeter into her home and tried to cheer her up by lifting her dress and exposing
herself to Demeter (Clem Alex Protr 2 21)
The name is derived from the colloquial verb βαυβάω to sleep but also took on the meaning of female sex A less
acceptable suggestion of Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 73) is a derivation from βαΰζω to murmur or from
πραΰνω to soothe which according to him are applicable to a governess
Category Female names
ΒαῦκιςBAUCISA Phrygian woman who together with her husband Philemon welcomed Zeus and Hermes they sent a flood upon all
the other villagers who had not welcomed them but transformed these two into trees and their hut into a temple
(Ovid Met 8 616-715)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from βαυκός soft tender a folk word of uncertain etymology (Chantraine DELG) Room (Rooms
Classical Dictionary p 73) believes that it may have the same source as Baubo and in particular may be explained in
connection with πραΰνω to calm but such hypotheses are groundless
Category Female names
Theme Transformation
ΒελλεροφόντηςBELLEROPHONSon of Poseidon and the daughter of the king of Megara Iobates after he received a request from Proteus to kill the
hero commanded Bellerophon to slay the Chimera believing that this could not be done then sent him against the
Solymi the Amazons and Lydians until he recognized his divine nature (Hom Il 6 155-205 216-26)
Already in antiquity the name was interpreted as slayer of Belleros from the verb θείνω to slay that often appears
in the second part of compounds in the form -φόντης According to Kretschmer (Glotta 24 1936 pp 237-38 e 273
31 1951 pp 92 ff) this is an acceptable interpretation considering that Belleros is the name of a local demon On the
other hand Malten (Hermes 79 1944 pp 10 ff) views as a conjecture derived from popular imagination According
to Chantraine (DELG) supported also by Carnoy (DEMGR) Heubecks suggestion (Beitr Namenf 5 1954 pp 25-28)
that the name means full of strength being a compound of an Indo-European derivative bel- strength and ghwen
to swell up with cannot be proven
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΒῆλοςBELOSThe name of one of the two twin sons of the nymph Libya and Poseidon (the other was called Agenor) grandsons of
Epaphus (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4)
The name derives from the Semitic name of the god Baal Bel (Bernhard in Roscher Myth Lex I col 778)
Category Names of heroes
ΒιάνωρBIANORSon of the Tiber and the nymph Manto he founded the city of Mantua (Serv ad Verg Ecl 9 60)
This name is a compound of βιάω to tame to defeat and of ἀνήρ man and thus means he who forcefully tames
heroes Alternatively Pape- Benseler (WGE) translate it as a hard cruel violent man
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΒιήνωρBIENORTrojan captain with a Greek name called ποιmicroὴν λαῶν shepherd of people mentioned only once in Hom Il 11
92-93 when he was killed and stripped of his arms by Agamemnon together with his companion in arms and charioteer
Oileus
With the verbal sense of βια- it means ldquohe who with force dominates the enemy herordquo cf Bianor (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens I p 372-374) Elephenor Elpenor
Category Names of heroes
ΒορέαςBOREASGod of the North Wind the son of Eos and Astraeus brother of Zephyrus and Notus (Hes Theog 378)
One theory is that it means wind from the mountain related to Sanskrit giriacute- Avestan gairi- and ancient Slavic gora
mountain (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of gods
ΒῶροςBOROSBORUS1 Mentioned in Homer as the father of Phaestus Hom Il 5 44 he lived in Tarne Maeonia in the region of Smyrna
2 Another Borus in Homer (Il 16 177-178) son of Perieres was married to Polydora in Phthia Thessaly Polydora the
daughter of Peleus and Antigone 2 (Apollod Bibl 3 13 1) had a son Menesthius actually fathered by the river god
Spercheus (Il 16 173-176) 3 Son of Penthilus a descendant of Nestor grandson of Periclymenus had a son named
Andropompus who was the father of Melanthus who was expelled by the Hereclidae (Pausan 2 18 8)
The name probably is not Greek hence it is pointless to search for an explanation (as Pape-Benseler have done s v) by
resorting to the Hesychian gloss Βωροί ὀφθαλmicroοί eyes (Frisk GEW s v) Possibly related to the Βωρεῖς the name
of a tribe in Cyzicus (von Kamptz Homerische Personenn sect 81 pp 322)
Category Names of heroes
ΒουφάγοςBOUPHAGUSArcadian hero son of Iapetos and of Thornax killed by Artemis while chasing her on Mt Pholoe (Pausan 8 14 9 27 17)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of βοῦς ldquooxrdquo and the aorist φαγεῖν of the verb ἐσθίω ldquoto eatrdquo it therefore means ldquoeater
of oxenrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ΒούτηςBOUTESBUTESName of various people including 1 A son of Boreas father of Hippodamia (Diod Sic 4 70) who tried to kill his
half-brother Licurgus and once discovered fled from Thessaly to Naxos where he became a pirate (Diod Sic 5 50)
2 Another was the son of the king of Athens Pandion and Zeuxippe (Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) brother of Procne and
Philomela founder of the hereditary priesthood of the Athenian Eteobutadai 3 A third son of Teleon participated
in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 4 912-19) He was the only one who threw himself into the sea
after he heard the song of the Sirens overwhelmed by the song of Orpheus He was saved by Aphrodite and afterwards
founded the colony of Lilybaeum near Eryx on Sicily
Derived from βούς cow and simply means cowherd
Category Names of heroes
ΒουζύγηςBOUZYGESA mythical character to whom the invention of the yoke is attributed (Serv ad Verg Georg 1 19 Hesych s v)
The name is a simple compound of βούς cow and the verb ζεύγνυmicroι to join and therefore means yoker of cows
Category Names of heroes
ΒράγχοςBRANCHUSSon of Smycrus a hero orginally from Delphi but who settled in Miletus before his birth his mother had a vision of the
sun descending into her mouth passing through her body and out of her vulva He was beloved by Apollo who gave
him the gift of prophecy (Conon Narr 33)
The name derives from the adjective βραγχός hoarse a technical term whose etymology is not clear one could
perhaps compare old Irish brong(a)ide hoarseness (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ΒρέmicroουσαBREMUSAAccording to a late poem (IV cent CE) she is one of the 12 Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy Quint
Smyrn Posthom 1 43 she is killed by Idomeneus with a stroke of his spear to her right breast
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
20
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
21
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
22
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
23
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
24
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
25
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
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Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
37
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
38
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
feminine form Adamanteia (non-existent in Greek) a reading that was found in the first editions of Hyg Fab 139 but
which should obviously be corrected to Amalthea
Category Names of heroes
ἈδαmicroάστωρADAMASTORA huge monster as big as the Colossus of Rhodes that appeared to Vasco de Gama and the Portuguese fleet near the
Cape of Good Hope foretelling disaster Probably invented by Camotildees Lusiacuteadas 5 st 41-51 on classical models He is
referred to as the companion of Enceladus Aegaeon and of the other Giants who fought against the gods Interrogated
by the leader of the expedition he tells of his own unhappy love for the wife of Peleus Thetis who tricked him with an
apparition of herself for which he was transformed into the rock of the Cape of Good Hope (Lus st 52-60) This figure
is almost totally unknown to Greek and Roman mythology which refers to a giant Damastor (Claudian Gigant 101-103)
while one Adamasthor is listed among the other giants only in Sidon Apollin Carm 1520 (sec V- inizi VI dev)
The name is a nomen agentis formed with the suffix -τωρ from the verbal adjective ἀδαmicroαστός which means
unconquerable unconquered used frequently of young women who have not had sexual relations with a man (from
ἀ- privativo e δαmicro- δάmicroνηmicroι δαmicroάω) It seems to be constructed by analogy with Alagravestor Phobegravetor and would mean
that is unconquerable implacable The adjective ἀδαmicroάστωρ (v l ἀδαmicroάτωρ) is also found in Pap Mag IV 2717
in the sense of virgin said of Hecate
Category Names of gods
Theme Transformation
ἌδmicroητοςADMETUSKing of Pherai in Thessaly son of Pheretes husband of Alcestis (Apollod Bibl 1 8 2 9 16) He participated in the
Calydonian Boar Hunt and in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 1 49-50)
This name is derived from the verbal adjective of δάmicroνηmicroι conquer with privative ἀ- and so means unconquered
There is attested also the feminine Admeta (Ἀδmicroήτη) an Argive priestess daughter of Eurystheus (Pausan 8 4 4)
ἌδωνιςADONISBorn of Myrrharsquos incestuous love for her father Cinyras king of Cyprus His mother was transformed into the tree that
bears her name and the extraordinarily beautiful baby was raised by Aphrodite and Persephone he was killed by a
boar spurred on against him by Artemis (Apollod Bibl 3 14 4) In a local version based in Syria the father had the
name Theias (Ant Lib Metam 34 5)
This name is certainly a Semitic loan-word in Hebrew there is the word adon master lord (Chantraine DELG
Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v p 23)
Theme Incest
7
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἌδραστοςADRASTOSName of the king of Argos that hosted Tydeus and Polyneices gave his daughters Argia and Deipyle to them as wives
and led them on the expedition against Thebes (Hom Il 2 572)
It could be that what we have is a verbal adjective of the verb δι-δράσκω flee with an ἀ privative- which would
mean he who does not try to flee (Chantraine DELG s v διδράσκω) if interpreted in the active sense or better
he to whom one cannot flee if it has a passive sense Wathelet (Dictionnaire des Troyens pp 170-171) however
maintains that it is difficult to justify the presence of σ since the root of δι-δράσκω is δρα- and not δρασ- it could
be foreign to Greek but it is a name firmly attested in Greece - see also the feminine Ἀδράστεια another name for
Nemesis (cf Aesch Prom 936) Perhaps then it is a pre-Hellenic name and the derivation from διδράσκω could be
owed to a folk etymology
Category Names of heroes
ἈγακλήςAGACLESFather of one of the Myrmidons who was king in the town of Budeion (perhaps in Thessaly or in Boeotia Eustath
Comm ad Il 16 570-574) he was succeeded by his son Epeigeus who went into exile for having killed a noble cousin
and was taken in as a guest by Peleus and Thetis in Phthia (Hom Il 16 570-571) but later perished at Troy at the
hands of Hector
A simple compound of the prefix ἀγα- and of κλέος it means extremely glorious of abundant glory cf Agathocles
Megacles Pericles
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαmicroήδηςAGAMEDESName of the architect the son of Stymphalos who with his sons Trophonios and Cercyon built many famous structures
in ancient Greece (Pausan 8 4 8 10 2)
The name is a compound of ἀγα- an intensive prefix and of the verb microήδοmicroαι to plan a project to have in mind and
means therefore one who thinks a lot Also attested in the feminine Agamede (Ἀγαmicroήδη in Hom Il 11 740-741)
daughter of Augeias and wife of Moulios a sorceress skilled in drugs and poisons
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαmicroέmicroνωνAGAMEMNONSon of Atreus brother of Menelaos husband of Clytaimnestra supreme commander of the Achaean army in the Trojan
War (Hom Il passim)
The name is a compound of ἀγα- an intensive prefix the second part of the compound presents some uncertainties It
has been hypothesized that it is based on -microέδmicroων a derivative of microέδοmicroαι to command (Carnoy DEMGR maintains
such a hypothesis) according to Kretschmer (Glotta 3 1912 p 330) this interpretation is not acceptable Hamp
8
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(Glotta 49 1971 pp 21-24) supports the hypothesis already asserted by Heubeck (Gedenkschrift Brandenstein pp
357-61) that it derives from Ἀγα-microέν-microων with metathesis of νmicro gt microν the name would then derive from microένω to
resist with an expressive form of reduplication and would mean one who resists with vigor Van der Valk (in Snell
Lex fr Ep col 34) on the basis of analogy interprets it as an extremely energetic man full of vigor
Category Names of heroes
ἈγανίππηAGANIPPE1 Daughter of Termessos god of the river that flows around Helicon (Pausan 9 29 5 2) and so a Naiad the eponym
of the spring that flows out near the grove of the Muses on Mt Helicon in Boeotia later identified with the fountain
Hippocrene perhaps made to flow by the hoof of the winged horse Pegasos (Verg Eclog 10 12 Ovid Metam 5
262-263 Pausan 9 31 3-4) 2 As an alternative to Eurydike 2 (Schol ad Apollon Rhod 4 1091) she would be the
wife of Acrisius the mother of Danae and grandmother of Perseus Hygin Fab 63 3 A daughter of Aigyptos sacrificed
on the altar of the apotropaic gods in the late account of Ps Plut de fluviis 16 1 4 There exists a late masculine
form Ἀγάνιππος Trojan warrior killed by Ajax along with many companions in a non-Homeric tradition (Quint Smyrn
Posthom 3 227-231)
A compound of the adjective ἀγανός sweet soft and ἵππος mare it could mean tame mare
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ἈγαπήνωρAGAPENORSon of Ankaios and Io leader of the Arcadian contingent who came to the Trojan War from Tegea (Hom Il 2 609 ss)
The name is a compound of the verb ἀγαπάω to love and ἀνήρ man it could mean one who loves men or one
who loves manly courage Cf other personal names such as Ἀντ- ήνωρ Βι- ήνωρ Ἐλεφ- ήνωρ Πεισ- ήνωρ where
the nominal part of the compound seems to be particularly ἀνήρ while for Ὑπερ- ήνωρ the predominant sense is
apparently that of ἠνορέη manly courage which is also found in numerous adjectival compounds
Category Names of heroes
ἈγασθένηςAGASTHENESSon of Augeias brother of Phyleus and father of Polyxeinos who was commander of ten of the 40 ships in the contingent
sent from Elis (Hom Il 2 615-624) and who also appears in the catalog of the suitors of Helen Polyxeinos would
return safe and sound from Troy and would father a son by the name of Amphimachos 3 (Pausan 5 3 4)
9
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
A name easily interpreted it is a compound of the intensive prefix ἀγα- and -σθένος strength very productive in
Greek personal names and so means endowed with great strength (von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 31 a
2 p 89) cf Demosthenes Eurysthenes Megasthenes etc
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάστροφοςAGASTROPHOSIn Homer a Trojan warrior the son of Paion killed by Diomedes by a blow of a spear to the buttocks while fighting
in the front lines on foot after having foolishly separated himself from his chariot and his charioteer (Hom Il 11
338-342 368 Diomedes was struck on the foot by a arrow while trying to strip him of his armor 11 373 cfr Scholia
ad l Eustath 320712 ad l Etym Gudianum 235 15 s v Ἠγαθέη in a compound with ἀγα-)
Wathelet (Dictionnaire des Troyens n 5 pp 148-149) attempts to link this personal name and the military event in
which he is involved ineffectually It may mean des sehr Wendige that is very nimble in movement (von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 22 a 1 p 71) cfr Epistrophos impetuous in attack) so one who turns aggressively
against the enemy from the prefix ἀγα- active in many compounds and the verb στρέφω rotate turn spin
around Less probable (but possible) is he who knows how to turn a chariot in excellent fashion
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάθωνAGATHONSon of Priam cited only once in the last book of Hom Il 24 with the epithet δῖος ldquoillustriousrdquo with eight of his
brothers and half-brothers he was reproached by his elderly father who impatiently waited to have his chariot prepared
so that he could go to reclaim the body of Hector
A simple formation with the suffix -ων from the adjective ἀγαθός goodly capable with recessive accent
Mycenaean recognizes a genitive a-ka-ta-jo-jo (PY En 659) which can be rendered as Ἀγαθαῖος (but also as Ἀκταῖος)
It does not seem necessary to consider it a hypocorism for Agathocles or Agathodoros (Wathelet Dictionnaire des
Troyens I p 147) the name is in any case very common in Greek and it is one of the many examples of entirely
Greek personal names in the Trojan camp
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαυήAGAVEDaughter of Kadmos and of Harmonia mother of Pentheus (Hes Theog 975 ss Eurip Bacch passim) sister of Semele
Ino and Autonoe Another Agave less well-known appears among the Nereids (Hom Il 18 42)
10
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from ἀγαυός admirable noble illustrious an adjective related to the verb ἄγαmicroαι to admire
marvel at (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγαυός)
ἈγέλαοςAGELAOSA rather popular name in Homer we find 1 a Greek officer who was killed along with eight other commanders
(ἡγεmicroόνες) by Hektor in Hom Il 11 301-304 2 a Trojan warrior son of Phradmon the first to have been killed by
Diomedes who after having crossed the ditch with his horses stabbed him with a javelin between his shoulders forcing
it through his chest and making him fall from his chariot in his armor (Hom Il 8 253-260) 3 a slave of Priam who was
charged by the king with exposing Paris on mount Ida but shortly afterwards he was moved by pity and raised the baby
as his own Apollod Bibl 3 12 5 (149-150) 4 one of the suitors of Penelope son of Damastor who tried to convince
Telemachos to agree to allow him to marry his mother (Hom Od 20 321 ss) He urged on Melanthius and other to exit
the hall and raise the alarm during the slaughter of the suitors (Od 22 131 136 212) and was killed by Odysseus with
a spear-blow (Od 22 292-293) 5 son of Herakles and of Omphale ancestor of the kings of Lydia Apollod Bibl 2 7
8 (165) 6 son of Oineus king of Calydon and brother of Meleagros Antonin Lib Metam 2
A compound of the verb ἄγω ldquoto guide leadrdquo and of the substantive λαός ldquopeople in armsrdquo analogous to Agenor
it is perhaps already attested in the Mycenaean a-ke-ra-wo KN Vc 316 (also read Ἀρχέλαος) where there exists also
the nomen agentis ra-wa-ke-ta (PY Un 718 9 etc) usually interpreted as λαϜ-αγέτας ldquoleader of armed troopsrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈγήνωρAGENOR1 Son of Poseidon and Libya and father of Europa Kadmos Phoinix and Cilix (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4 3 1) and
descendant of Argive Io 2 Among other characters with this name there is a Trojan hero son of Antenor frequently
mentioned in the Iliad (21 544-599 e passim)
The name means ldquohe who leads the men valiantrdquo as it is a compound of ἄγω ldquoto leadrdquo and of ἀνήρ man By
contrast Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 32) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 99) maintain that
the first part of the name is the intensive prefix ἀγα- and that the name means ldquoextremely manly courageousrdquo The
first interpretation seems preferable by far because compounds in ἀγα- are most often formed from verbs (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens de lIliade p 154)
Category Names of heroes
ἈγλαίαAGLAIAName of one of the Graces or Charites (Hes Theog 69 907 ss)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It is derived from the adjective ἀγλαός illustrious shining and means she who displays radiance beauty
Category Names of gods
ἌγριοςAGRIOS1 A giant who was killed along with Thoas by the Moirai in the Gigantomachy when these two sons of Gaia fought
against the gods (Apollod Bibl 1 6 2) 2 Son of Portheus and brother of Oineus (king of Calydon in Aitolia grandfather
of Diomedes) and of Melas with whom he lived in Pleuron (Hom Il 14 116-118) He had six children including
Thersites who deposed Oineus in favor of their own father before departing for the Trojan War (Apollod Bibl 1 8 68)
According to Hyginus after the fall of the city Diomedes learned that his grandfather had been deposed and ousted
Agrios who committed suicide because of it (Hygin Fab 175 242 and Antonin Lib Metam 37 1) 3 Centaur that
Heracles drove off by throwing red-hot coals at him when he drawn by the smell of wine rushed to the wine-jar of
Pholos which had been opened during the heros fourth labor when he was passing through Arcadia (Apollod Bibl 2 5
4) 4 Brother of Oreios he was a Thracian giant born of Polyphonte and a bear he and his brother would haul strangers
off and devour them He was transformed by the gods into a vulture to punish him for his cruel bestiality (Antonin Lib
Metam 21) 5 Son of Circe and Odysseus brother of Latinos and of Telegonos (Hes Theog 1011-1014)
Derived directly from the adjective ἄγριος uncultivated or not domesticated even savage violent Von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 4 b 1 p 14 compares it to the compound Μελέαγρος not coincidentally his nephew
Since the countryside as an uncultivated area is normally fitting for activity connected to hunting one could easily
explain that the term ἄγριος could mean either ldquohe who nurtures the landrdquo (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγρός) or ldquohe
who hunts in an uncultivated areardquo
Category Names of heroes
ἌγρωνAGRONName of an inhabitant of the island of Cos who along with his sisters Byssa and Meropis worshiped only the Earth and
insulted the other gods who in revenge transformed him into a plover (Anton Lib Met 15 from Boios Ornithogonia)
It possibly derives from ἀγρός field land and means something like lover of fields man of the country
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Transformation
ΑἴαςAIAS (AJAX)Name of two Homeric heroes 1 the son of Oileus of Locris (Hom Il 13 46 23 754) 2 the son of Telamon king
of Salamis (Hom Il 2 553 7 183) he killed himself by falling on his sword cf Sophocles tragedy Aias which is
dedicated to him
Various theories have been proposed as to how to interpret this name 1) already in antiquity it was connected to
αἰετός eagle (Hes Fr 250 = Schol ad Pind Isth 6 53 Apollod Bibl 3 12 7) a complete invention 2) it could be
related to αἶα land (Chantraine DELG von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 168 Van der Valk in Snell Lex
12
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
fr Ep col 232) and would mean man of the earth or the descendant of Aia 3) already attested in Mycenaean ai-
wa (Kn Np 973) perhaps as a bovine name it could be interpreted as a hypocorism of Αἴολος alive from the Indo-
European aiu+unt- he who has dynamic strength vigorous (Muumlhlestein Studi Micenei 2 1967 pp 41-52 Carnoy
DEMGR and von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 368)
Category Names of heroes
ἈλέκτωρALEKTORName of different figures including 1) the son of Anaxagoras (Apollod Bibl 3 6 2) 2) the son of Epeios (Diod Sic
4 69) 3) the son of Argeios grandson of Pelops he is the father of Iphiloche or Echemela (Schol ad Hom Od 4 10)
whom Menelaos gave in matrimony to Megapenthes 4) the father of the Argonaut Leitos (Apollod Bibl 1 9 16)
Already attested in Mycenaean a-re-ko-to-re (KN Ce 1521) it is a nomen agentis in -τωρ from the verb ἀλέκω ldquoto
defend repelrdquo and thus means ldquothe defenderrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈλεκτρύωνALEKTRYONName of the sentry assigned by Ares to inform him about the approach of day while the god was occupied in his affair
with Aphrodite (Eustath ad Hom 1598 61) it is obviously an allusion to the cock-crow
It is attested in Mycenaean in the form A-re-ku-tu-ru-wo (PY An 6548) It means ldquoroosterrdquo and is formed from ἀλέκτωρ
ldquodefenderrdquo since it refers to a combative animal (Chantraine DELG s v ἀλέξω) Ruijgh (Minos 9 1968 p 153)
prefers to interpret it instead as a derivative of ἄλεκτρον a defensive implement
ἈλήτηςALETESSon of Hippotes descendant of Herakles born during the return of the Herakleidai (Pausan 2 4 4 5 18 8)
It means wanderer vagabond and is the nomen agentis of the verb ἀλάοmicroαι to wander (Chantraine DELG s v
ἀλάοmicroαι)
Category Names of heroes
ἈφροδίτηAPHRODITEGoddess of love (Hom Il 5 820 and passim Hymn Hom ad Ven Hes Theog 190 ff) born of the foam of the sea
and the genitals of Ouranos or according to another tradition of Zeus and Dione
She is a goddess of Near Eastern origin and later there arises a folk etymology that interprets the name as coming from
ἀφρός foam (Plat Crat 406 c) οὕνεκ ἐν ἀφρῷ θρέφθη (Hes Theog 197-198) The theory of Grimme (Glotta 14
1925 p 18) who proposes an association with the Semitic goddess of fertility Astoret has not been proven nor has
that of Hammarstroumlm (Glotta 11 1921 pp 214 ff) who compares this name with the pre-Indo-European πρύτανις
13
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Etruscan (e)pr ni this latter hypothesis is also maintained by Carnoy (DEMGR) but with the help of Pelasgian phonology
according to which p would become ph
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ἈθήνηATHENAA goddess daughter of Zeus and Metis born from the head of the god (Hes Theog 886 ss)
This name is already attested in Mycenaean in the form of a-ta-na-po-ti-ni-ja (KN V 521 52 bis) and is difficult to
explain Carnoy (DEMGR) supports the Pelasgic hypothesis of Van Windekens (Le Peacutelasgique pp 40-41) according to
whom the initial Ath- is a Pelasgic form of the Indo-European at-no Sanskrit atta mother with the change t gt th
but Athena does not have maternal characteristics in the historical period It is possible that it is a pre-Hellenic name
(cfr van der Valk in Snell Lex fr Ep col 208)
Category Names of gods
ΒαῖοςBAIOS or BAEUSHelmsman of Odysseus whose name was supposedly given to various places for instance a mountain on the island of
Cephalonia and the town of Baia in Campania (Strab 1 p 26 5 p 245 Lycophr Alex 694) The name only occurs in
the post-classical period and does not appear in the Homeric poems
The name apparently derives from βαιός short unimportant with the recessive accent often found with
anthroponyms
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΒαλίοςBALIOS or BALIUSOne of the two immortal horses of Achilles (Xanthus) son of Zephyrus and the Harpy Podarge who was given to Peleus
by Poseidon perhaps on the occasion of Peleusrsquo wedding to Thetis The third horse of Achilles team was Pedasus who
was killed in battle 2 The horse of Celmis (or Schelmis) beaten in a race by the mare of Erechtheus named Podarce
(Nonn Dionys 37 334-337) 3 One of the dogs of Actaeon in Apollod Bibl 33 4 4
With a recessive accent Baliacuteos is simply derived from βαλιός speckled spotted
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασίλειαBASILEIAEldest daughter of Uranus and Titaia who distinguished herself from her sisters through her wisdom and intelligence she
married her brother Hyperion and gave birth to Selene and Helios (Diod Sic 3 57 who reports a non-Greek tradition)
14
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means queen ending in the suffix -y - Its origin is probably as a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v
βασιλεύς) from Mycenean qa-si-re-u
Category Names of gods
ΒασιλίσκοςBASILISKA serpent of small size no more than twelve inches long (about a handrsquos length) marked by a white spot on the head
is also distinguished from other snakes by traveling upright rather than slithering (erectus in medio incedens Plin
Nat Hist 8 33 78 Aelian Hist anim 2 5)One is tempted to identify it with the cobra Lucan (Bell Civ 724-26)
mentioned its death-bringing hiss including it in his comprehensive catalogue of snakes to which Dante alludes in the
Circle of Hell dedicated to thieves (Inf 24 85 ff) Not only its touch but its breath is destructive wherever it appears
(exurit herbas rumpit saxa) Its venom can pass through objects if it is true that one time as Pliny says a rider and
his horse were destroyed by poison traveling up the long spear used for killing the serpent cf also Aelian Nat anim 2
5 The power of its gaze is terrible anyone who meets it dies The only way to look upon it is ithrough the reflection of
a mirror just as Perseus had done with Medusa from whose blood all the reptiles of Libya arose (Lucan Bell Civ 696
ff) Alexander the Great during his campaign in India to defeat the horrible creature (cf Leo Neapol Hist de prelis
Alex Magni rec I 3 p 320 sec X) used the stratagem of putting mirrors on the shields of his soldiers The basiliskrsquos
mortal enemies are the weasel and the cock the first kills him with its own smell (Plin Nat hist 8 33 79) the
second protected travelers who passed through Libya (Aelian Nat anim 3 31) In Late Antique and Medieval bestiaries
its nature is linked to that of its enemy the cock it too can go on all fours or can assume plumage while keeping a
reptilian tail thus arose the basilgallo (basilicock in Chaucer) In the Middle Ages it had a negative connotation at
times relating it to the Devil (or Antichrist) to the sinner or heresy To St Antony of Padua (Sermoni) it represented
wrath Cecco dAscoli who was burned at the stake in 1327 on the charge of sorcery records that the basilisk is the
Lord of serpents (Acerba 30) The preconception has biblical roots Isaiah (59 5) mentions a poisonous reptile the
Hebrew tsepha that in the translation of the Septuagint became βασιλίσκος and in the Vulgate basiliscus It likewise
occurs in Jeremiah 8 17 and in Psalms 91 13 Modern translations more cautiously prefers asp viper serpent
The etymology is simple βασιλίσκος diminutive of βασιλεύς (a word already attested in Mycenaean qa-si-re-u)
means little king lat basiliscus and regulus designating the king of the serpents due to its terrible powers in
spite of its small size
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασσάραBASSARAName of a Thracian Bacchant (Athen 5 7 p 198)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means fox but also suggests the clothing of the Thracian bacchants which were made from fox pelts it
is a term derived from a loan word perhaps linked to the cult of Dionysus (Chantraine DELG s v) cf the verb ἀνα-
βασσαρέω Anacr fr 11 6 (356) PMG to revel Braccini T Glotta 86 2010 pp 7-21
ΒάτωνBATONA Theban the relative and charioteer of Amphiaraus He was swallowed up along with him into a chasm that opened
in the earth in front of Thebes (Pausan 2 23 2 5 17 8 10 10 3)
The name may come from βάτος bramble and may mean bramble or one who inhabits the bramble
Category Names of heroes
ΒάττοςBATTUSThe name of an old man transformed into a rock by Hermes because he did not keep secret the theft of Apollos cattle
(Anton Lib Met 23) A more widely known character with this name is the founder of Cyrene the son of Polymnestus
and Phronima (Herodot 4 145 ff Callim Hymn 2 65 Pausan 3 14 3 10 15 6-7)
The name belongs to the family of the verb βατταρίζω to stutter and means the stutterer they are onomatopoetic
terms According to Herodotus (4 145 ff) it could signify king in Libyan Masson (Glotta 54 1976 pp 84-98) favors
the first interpretation since the words of Herodotus are general and we lack information on South-Eastern Libyan
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΒαυβώBAUBOEleusinian wife of Dysaules received Demeter into her home and tried to cheer her up by lifting her dress and exposing
herself to Demeter (Clem Alex Protr 2 21)
The name is derived from the colloquial verb βαυβάω to sleep but also took on the meaning of female sex A less
acceptable suggestion of Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 73) is a derivation from βαΰζω to murmur or from
πραΰνω to soothe which according to him are applicable to a governess
Category Female names
ΒαῦκιςBAUCISA Phrygian woman who together with her husband Philemon welcomed Zeus and Hermes they sent a flood upon all
the other villagers who had not welcomed them but transformed these two into trees and their hut into a temple
(Ovid Met 8 616-715)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from βαυκός soft tender a folk word of uncertain etymology (Chantraine DELG) Room (Rooms
Classical Dictionary p 73) believes that it may have the same source as Baubo and in particular may be explained in
connection with πραΰνω to calm but such hypotheses are groundless
Category Female names
Theme Transformation
ΒελλεροφόντηςBELLEROPHONSon of Poseidon and the daughter of the king of Megara Iobates after he received a request from Proteus to kill the
hero commanded Bellerophon to slay the Chimera believing that this could not be done then sent him against the
Solymi the Amazons and Lydians until he recognized his divine nature (Hom Il 6 155-205 216-26)
Already in antiquity the name was interpreted as slayer of Belleros from the verb θείνω to slay that often appears
in the second part of compounds in the form -φόντης According to Kretschmer (Glotta 24 1936 pp 237-38 e 273
31 1951 pp 92 ff) this is an acceptable interpretation considering that Belleros is the name of a local demon On the
other hand Malten (Hermes 79 1944 pp 10 ff) views as a conjecture derived from popular imagination According
to Chantraine (DELG) supported also by Carnoy (DEMGR) Heubecks suggestion (Beitr Namenf 5 1954 pp 25-28)
that the name means full of strength being a compound of an Indo-European derivative bel- strength and ghwen
to swell up with cannot be proven
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΒῆλοςBELOSThe name of one of the two twin sons of the nymph Libya and Poseidon (the other was called Agenor) grandsons of
Epaphus (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4)
The name derives from the Semitic name of the god Baal Bel (Bernhard in Roscher Myth Lex I col 778)
Category Names of heroes
ΒιάνωρBIANORSon of the Tiber and the nymph Manto he founded the city of Mantua (Serv ad Verg Ecl 9 60)
This name is a compound of βιάω to tame to defeat and of ἀνήρ man and thus means he who forcefully tames
heroes Alternatively Pape- Benseler (WGE) translate it as a hard cruel violent man
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΒιήνωρBIENORTrojan captain with a Greek name called ποιmicroὴν λαῶν shepherd of people mentioned only once in Hom Il 11
92-93 when he was killed and stripped of his arms by Agamemnon together with his companion in arms and charioteer
Oileus
With the verbal sense of βια- it means ldquohe who with force dominates the enemy herordquo cf Bianor (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens I p 372-374) Elephenor Elpenor
Category Names of heroes
ΒορέαςBOREASGod of the North Wind the son of Eos and Astraeus brother of Zephyrus and Notus (Hes Theog 378)
One theory is that it means wind from the mountain related to Sanskrit giriacute- Avestan gairi- and ancient Slavic gora
mountain (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of gods
ΒῶροςBOROSBORUS1 Mentioned in Homer as the father of Phaestus Hom Il 5 44 he lived in Tarne Maeonia in the region of Smyrna
2 Another Borus in Homer (Il 16 177-178) son of Perieres was married to Polydora in Phthia Thessaly Polydora the
daughter of Peleus and Antigone 2 (Apollod Bibl 3 13 1) had a son Menesthius actually fathered by the river god
Spercheus (Il 16 173-176) 3 Son of Penthilus a descendant of Nestor grandson of Periclymenus had a son named
Andropompus who was the father of Melanthus who was expelled by the Hereclidae (Pausan 2 18 8)
The name probably is not Greek hence it is pointless to search for an explanation (as Pape-Benseler have done s v) by
resorting to the Hesychian gloss Βωροί ὀφθαλmicroοί eyes (Frisk GEW s v) Possibly related to the Βωρεῖς the name
of a tribe in Cyzicus (von Kamptz Homerische Personenn sect 81 pp 322)
Category Names of heroes
ΒουφάγοςBOUPHAGUSArcadian hero son of Iapetos and of Thornax killed by Artemis while chasing her on Mt Pholoe (Pausan 8 14 9 27 17)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of βοῦς ldquooxrdquo and the aorist φαγεῖν of the verb ἐσθίω ldquoto eatrdquo it therefore means ldquoeater
of oxenrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ΒούτηςBOUTESBUTESName of various people including 1 A son of Boreas father of Hippodamia (Diod Sic 4 70) who tried to kill his
half-brother Licurgus and once discovered fled from Thessaly to Naxos where he became a pirate (Diod Sic 5 50)
2 Another was the son of the king of Athens Pandion and Zeuxippe (Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) brother of Procne and
Philomela founder of the hereditary priesthood of the Athenian Eteobutadai 3 A third son of Teleon participated
in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 4 912-19) He was the only one who threw himself into the sea
after he heard the song of the Sirens overwhelmed by the song of Orpheus He was saved by Aphrodite and afterwards
founded the colony of Lilybaeum near Eryx on Sicily
Derived from βούς cow and simply means cowherd
Category Names of heroes
ΒουζύγηςBOUZYGESA mythical character to whom the invention of the yoke is attributed (Serv ad Verg Georg 1 19 Hesych s v)
The name is a simple compound of βούς cow and the verb ζεύγνυmicroι to join and therefore means yoker of cows
Category Names of heroes
ΒράγχοςBRANCHUSSon of Smycrus a hero orginally from Delphi but who settled in Miletus before his birth his mother had a vision of the
sun descending into her mouth passing through her body and out of her vulva He was beloved by Apollo who gave
him the gift of prophecy (Conon Narr 33)
The name derives from the adjective βραγχός hoarse a technical term whose etymology is not clear one could
perhaps compare old Irish brong(a)ide hoarseness (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ΒρέmicroουσαBREMUSAAccording to a late poem (IV cent CE) she is one of the 12 Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy Quint
Smyrn Posthom 1 43 she is killed by Idomeneus with a stroke of his spear to her right breast
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
20
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
21
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
22
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
23
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
24
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
25
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
26
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
38
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἌδραστοςADRASTOSName of the king of Argos that hosted Tydeus and Polyneices gave his daughters Argia and Deipyle to them as wives
and led them on the expedition against Thebes (Hom Il 2 572)
It could be that what we have is a verbal adjective of the verb δι-δράσκω flee with an ἀ privative- which would
mean he who does not try to flee (Chantraine DELG s v διδράσκω) if interpreted in the active sense or better
he to whom one cannot flee if it has a passive sense Wathelet (Dictionnaire des Troyens pp 170-171) however
maintains that it is difficult to justify the presence of σ since the root of δι-δράσκω is δρα- and not δρασ- it could
be foreign to Greek but it is a name firmly attested in Greece - see also the feminine Ἀδράστεια another name for
Nemesis (cf Aesch Prom 936) Perhaps then it is a pre-Hellenic name and the derivation from διδράσκω could be
owed to a folk etymology
Category Names of heroes
ἈγακλήςAGACLESFather of one of the Myrmidons who was king in the town of Budeion (perhaps in Thessaly or in Boeotia Eustath
Comm ad Il 16 570-574) he was succeeded by his son Epeigeus who went into exile for having killed a noble cousin
and was taken in as a guest by Peleus and Thetis in Phthia (Hom Il 16 570-571) but later perished at Troy at the
hands of Hector
A simple compound of the prefix ἀγα- and of κλέος it means extremely glorious of abundant glory cf Agathocles
Megacles Pericles
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαmicroήδηςAGAMEDESName of the architect the son of Stymphalos who with his sons Trophonios and Cercyon built many famous structures
in ancient Greece (Pausan 8 4 8 10 2)
The name is a compound of ἀγα- an intensive prefix and of the verb microήδοmicroαι to plan a project to have in mind and
means therefore one who thinks a lot Also attested in the feminine Agamede (Ἀγαmicroήδη in Hom Il 11 740-741)
daughter of Augeias and wife of Moulios a sorceress skilled in drugs and poisons
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαmicroέmicroνωνAGAMEMNONSon of Atreus brother of Menelaos husband of Clytaimnestra supreme commander of the Achaean army in the Trojan
War (Hom Il passim)
The name is a compound of ἀγα- an intensive prefix the second part of the compound presents some uncertainties It
has been hypothesized that it is based on -microέδmicroων a derivative of microέδοmicroαι to command (Carnoy DEMGR maintains
such a hypothesis) according to Kretschmer (Glotta 3 1912 p 330) this interpretation is not acceptable Hamp
8
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(Glotta 49 1971 pp 21-24) supports the hypothesis already asserted by Heubeck (Gedenkschrift Brandenstein pp
357-61) that it derives from Ἀγα-microέν-microων with metathesis of νmicro gt microν the name would then derive from microένω to
resist with an expressive form of reduplication and would mean one who resists with vigor Van der Valk (in Snell
Lex fr Ep col 34) on the basis of analogy interprets it as an extremely energetic man full of vigor
Category Names of heroes
ἈγανίππηAGANIPPE1 Daughter of Termessos god of the river that flows around Helicon (Pausan 9 29 5 2) and so a Naiad the eponym
of the spring that flows out near the grove of the Muses on Mt Helicon in Boeotia later identified with the fountain
Hippocrene perhaps made to flow by the hoof of the winged horse Pegasos (Verg Eclog 10 12 Ovid Metam 5
262-263 Pausan 9 31 3-4) 2 As an alternative to Eurydike 2 (Schol ad Apollon Rhod 4 1091) she would be the
wife of Acrisius the mother of Danae and grandmother of Perseus Hygin Fab 63 3 A daughter of Aigyptos sacrificed
on the altar of the apotropaic gods in the late account of Ps Plut de fluviis 16 1 4 There exists a late masculine
form Ἀγάνιππος Trojan warrior killed by Ajax along with many companions in a non-Homeric tradition (Quint Smyrn
Posthom 3 227-231)
A compound of the adjective ἀγανός sweet soft and ἵππος mare it could mean tame mare
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ἈγαπήνωρAGAPENORSon of Ankaios and Io leader of the Arcadian contingent who came to the Trojan War from Tegea (Hom Il 2 609 ss)
The name is a compound of the verb ἀγαπάω to love and ἀνήρ man it could mean one who loves men or one
who loves manly courage Cf other personal names such as Ἀντ- ήνωρ Βι- ήνωρ Ἐλεφ- ήνωρ Πεισ- ήνωρ where
the nominal part of the compound seems to be particularly ἀνήρ while for Ὑπερ- ήνωρ the predominant sense is
apparently that of ἠνορέη manly courage which is also found in numerous adjectival compounds
Category Names of heroes
ἈγασθένηςAGASTHENESSon of Augeias brother of Phyleus and father of Polyxeinos who was commander of ten of the 40 ships in the contingent
sent from Elis (Hom Il 2 615-624) and who also appears in the catalog of the suitors of Helen Polyxeinos would
return safe and sound from Troy and would father a son by the name of Amphimachos 3 (Pausan 5 3 4)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
A name easily interpreted it is a compound of the intensive prefix ἀγα- and -σθένος strength very productive in
Greek personal names and so means endowed with great strength (von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 31 a
2 p 89) cf Demosthenes Eurysthenes Megasthenes etc
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάστροφοςAGASTROPHOSIn Homer a Trojan warrior the son of Paion killed by Diomedes by a blow of a spear to the buttocks while fighting
in the front lines on foot after having foolishly separated himself from his chariot and his charioteer (Hom Il 11
338-342 368 Diomedes was struck on the foot by a arrow while trying to strip him of his armor 11 373 cfr Scholia
ad l Eustath 320712 ad l Etym Gudianum 235 15 s v Ἠγαθέη in a compound with ἀγα-)
Wathelet (Dictionnaire des Troyens n 5 pp 148-149) attempts to link this personal name and the military event in
which he is involved ineffectually It may mean des sehr Wendige that is very nimble in movement (von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 22 a 1 p 71) cfr Epistrophos impetuous in attack) so one who turns aggressively
against the enemy from the prefix ἀγα- active in many compounds and the verb στρέφω rotate turn spin
around Less probable (but possible) is he who knows how to turn a chariot in excellent fashion
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάθωνAGATHONSon of Priam cited only once in the last book of Hom Il 24 with the epithet δῖος ldquoillustriousrdquo with eight of his
brothers and half-brothers he was reproached by his elderly father who impatiently waited to have his chariot prepared
so that he could go to reclaim the body of Hector
A simple formation with the suffix -ων from the adjective ἀγαθός goodly capable with recessive accent
Mycenaean recognizes a genitive a-ka-ta-jo-jo (PY En 659) which can be rendered as Ἀγαθαῖος (but also as Ἀκταῖος)
It does not seem necessary to consider it a hypocorism for Agathocles or Agathodoros (Wathelet Dictionnaire des
Troyens I p 147) the name is in any case very common in Greek and it is one of the many examples of entirely
Greek personal names in the Trojan camp
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαυήAGAVEDaughter of Kadmos and of Harmonia mother of Pentheus (Hes Theog 975 ss Eurip Bacch passim) sister of Semele
Ino and Autonoe Another Agave less well-known appears among the Nereids (Hom Il 18 42)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from ἀγαυός admirable noble illustrious an adjective related to the verb ἄγαmicroαι to admire
marvel at (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγαυός)
ἈγέλαοςAGELAOSA rather popular name in Homer we find 1 a Greek officer who was killed along with eight other commanders
(ἡγεmicroόνες) by Hektor in Hom Il 11 301-304 2 a Trojan warrior son of Phradmon the first to have been killed by
Diomedes who after having crossed the ditch with his horses stabbed him with a javelin between his shoulders forcing
it through his chest and making him fall from his chariot in his armor (Hom Il 8 253-260) 3 a slave of Priam who was
charged by the king with exposing Paris on mount Ida but shortly afterwards he was moved by pity and raised the baby
as his own Apollod Bibl 3 12 5 (149-150) 4 one of the suitors of Penelope son of Damastor who tried to convince
Telemachos to agree to allow him to marry his mother (Hom Od 20 321 ss) He urged on Melanthius and other to exit
the hall and raise the alarm during the slaughter of the suitors (Od 22 131 136 212) and was killed by Odysseus with
a spear-blow (Od 22 292-293) 5 son of Herakles and of Omphale ancestor of the kings of Lydia Apollod Bibl 2 7
8 (165) 6 son of Oineus king of Calydon and brother of Meleagros Antonin Lib Metam 2
A compound of the verb ἄγω ldquoto guide leadrdquo and of the substantive λαός ldquopeople in armsrdquo analogous to Agenor
it is perhaps already attested in the Mycenaean a-ke-ra-wo KN Vc 316 (also read Ἀρχέλαος) where there exists also
the nomen agentis ra-wa-ke-ta (PY Un 718 9 etc) usually interpreted as λαϜ-αγέτας ldquoleader of armed troopsrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈγήνωρAGENOR1 Son of Poseidon and Libya and father of Europa Kadmos Phoinix and Cilix (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4 3 1) and
descendant of Argive Io 2 Among other characters with this name there is a Trojan hero son of Antenor frequently
mentioned in the Iliad (21 544-599 e passim)
The name means ldquohe who leads the men valiantrdquo as it is a compound of ἄγω ldquoto leadrdquo and of ἀνήρ man By
contrast Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 32) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 99) maintain that
the first part of the name is the intensive prefix ἀγα- and that the name means ldquoextremely manly courageousrdquo The
first interpretation seems preferable by far because compounds in ἀγα- are most often formed from verbs (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens de lIliade p 154)
Category Names of heroes
ἈγλαίαAGLAIAName of one of the Graces or Charites (Hes Theog 69 907 ss)
11
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It is derived from the adjective ἀγλαός illustrious shining and means she who displays radiance beauty
Category Names of gods
ἌγριοςAGRIOS1 A giant who was killed along with Thoas by the Moirai in the Gigantomachy when these two sons of Gaia fought
against the gods (Apollod Bibl 1 6 2) 2 Son of Portheus and brother of Oineus (king of Calydon in Aitolia grandfather
of Diomedes) and of Melas with whom he lived in Pleuron (Hom Il 14 116-118) He had six children including
Thersites who deposed Oineus in favor of their own father before departing for the Trojan War (Apollod Bibl 1 8 68)
According to Hyginus after the fall of the city Diomedes learned that his grandfather had been deposed and ousted
Agrios who committed suicide because of it (Hygin Fab 175 242 and Antonin Lib Metam 37 1) 3 Centaur that
Heracles drove off by throwing red-hot coals at him when he drawn by the smell of wine rushed to the wine-jar of
Pholos which had been opened during the heros fourth labor when he was passing through Arcadia (Apollod Bibl 2 5
4) 4 Brother of Oreios he was a Thracian giant born of Polyphonte and a bear he and his brother would haul strangers
off and devour them He was transformed by the gods into a vulture to punish him for his cruel bestiality (Antonin Lib
Metam 21) 5 Son of Circe and Odysseus brother of Latinos and of Telegonos (Hes Theog 1011-1014)
Derived directly from the adjective ἄγριος uncultivated or not domesticated even savage violent Von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 4 b 1 p 14 compares it to the compound Μελέαγρος not coincidentally his nephew
Since the countryside as an uncultivated area is normally fitting for activity connected to hunting one could easily
explain that the term ἄγριος could mean either ldquohe who nurtures the landrdquo (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγρός) or ldquohe
who hunts in an uncultivated areardquo
Category Names of heroes
ἌγρωνAGRONName of an inhabitant of the island of Cos who along with his sisters Byssa and Meropis worshiped only the Earth and
insulted the other gods who in revenge transformed him into a plover (Anton Lib Met 15 from Boios Ornithogonia)
It possibly derives from ἀγρός field land and means something like lover of fields man of the country
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Transformation
ΑἴαςAIAS (AJAX)Name of two Homeric heroes 1 the son of Oileus of Locris (Hom Il 13 46 23 754) 2 the son of Telamon king
of Salamis (Hom Il 2 553 7 183) he killed himself by falling on his sword cf Sophocles tragedy Aias which is
dedicated to him
Various theories have been proposed as to how to interpret this name 1) already in antiquity it was connected to
αἰετός eagle (Hes Fr 250 = Schol ad Pind Isth 6 53 Apollod Bibl 3 12 7) a complete invention 2) it could be
related to αἶα land (Chantraine DELG von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 168 Van der Valk in Snell Lex
12
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
fr Ep col 232) and would mean man of the earth or the descendant of Aia 3) already attested in Mycenaean ai-
wa (Kn Np 973) perhaps as a bovine name it could be interpreted as a hypocorism of Αἴολος alive from the Indo-
European aiu+unt- he who has dynamic strength vigorous (Muumlhlestein Studi Micenei 2 1967 pp 41-52 Carnoy
DEMGR and von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 368)
Category Names of heroes
ἈλέκτωρALEKTORName of different figures including 1) the son of Anaxagoras (Apollod Bibl 3 6 2) 2) the son of Epeios (Diod Sic
4 69) 3) the son of Argeios grandson of Pelops he is the father of Iphiloche or Echemela (Schol ad Hom Od 4 10)
whom Menelaos gave in matrimony to Megapenthes 4) the father of the Argonaut Leitos (Apollod Bibl 1 9 16)
Already attested in Mycenaean a-re-ko-to-re (KN Ce 1521) it is a nomen agentis in -τωρ from the verb ἀλέκω ldquoto
defend repelrdquo and thus means ldquothe defenderrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈλεκτρύωνALEKTRYONName of the sentry assigned by Ares to inform him about the approach of day while the god was occupied in his affair
with Aphrodite (Eustath ad Hom 1598 61) it is obviously an allusion to the cock-crow
It is attested in Mycenaean in the form A-re-ku-tu-ru-wo (PY An 6548) It means ldquoroosterrdquo and is formed from ἀλέκτωρ
ldquodefenderrdquo since it refers to a combative animal (Chantraine DELG s v ἀλέξω) Ruijgh (Minos 9 1968 p 153)
prefers to interpret it instead as a derivative of ἄλεκτρον a defensive implement
ἈλήτηςALETESSon of Hippotes descendant of Herakles born during the return of the Herakleidai (Pausan 2 4 4 5 18 8)
It means wanderer vagabond and is the nomen agentis of the verb ἀλάοmicroαι to wander (Chantraine DELG s v
ἀλάοmicroαι)
Category Names of heroes
ἈφροδίτηAPHRODITEGoddess of love (Hom Il 5 820 and passim Hymn Hom ad Ven Hes Theog 190 ff) born of the foam of the sea
and the genitals of Ouranos or according to another tradition of Zeus and Dione
She is a goddess of Near Eastern origin and later there arises a folk etymology that interprets the name as coming from
ἀφρός foam (Plat Crat 406 c) οὕνεκ ἐν ἀφρῷ θρέφθη (Hes Theog 197-198) The theory of Grimme (Glotta 14
1925 p 18) who proposes an association with the Semitic goddess of fertility Astoret has not been proven nor has
that of Hammarstroumlm (Glotta 11 1921 pp 214 ff) who compares this name with the pre-Indo-European πρύτανις
13
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Etruscan (e)pr ni this latter hypothesis is also maintained by Carnoy (DEMGR) but with the help of Pelasgian phonology
according to which p would become ph
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ἈθήνηATHENAA goddess daughter of Zeus and Metis born from the head of the god (Hes Theog 886 ss)
This name is already attested in Mycenaean in the form of a-ta-na-po-ti-ni-ja (KN V 521 52 bis) and is difficult to
explain Carnoy (DEMGR) supports the Pelasgic hypothesis of Van Windekens (Le Peacutelasgique pp 40-41) according to
whom the initial Ath- is a Pelasgic form of the Indo-European at-no Sanskrit atta mother with the change t gt th
but Athena does not have maternal characteristics in the historical period It is possible that it is a pre-Hellenic name
(cfr van der Valk in Snell Lex fr Ep col 208)
Category Names of gods
ΒαῖοςBAIOS or BAEUSHelmsman of Odysseus whose name was supposedly given to various places for instance a mountain on the island of
Cephalonia and the town of Baia in Campania (Strab 1 p 26 5 p 245 Lycophr Alex 694) The name only occurs in
the post-classical period and does not appear in the Homeric poems
The name apparently derives from βαιός short unimportant with the recessive accent often found with
anthroponyms
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΒαλίοςBALIOS or BALIUSOne of the two immortal horses of Achilles (Xanthus) son of Zephyrus and the Harpy Podarge who was given to Peleus
by Poseidon perhaps on the occasion of Peleusrsquo wedding to Thetis The third horse of Achilles team was Pedasus who
was killed in battle 2 The horse of Celmis (or Schelmis) beaten in a race by the mare of Erechtheus named Podarce
(Nonn Dionys 37 334-337) 3 One of the dogs of Actaeon in Apollod Bibl 33 4 4
With a recessive accent Baliacuteos is simply derived from βαλιός speckled spotted
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασίλειαBASILEIAEldest daughter of Uranus and Titaia who distinguished herself from her sisters through her wisdom and intelligence she
married her brother Hyperion and gave birth to Selene and Helios (Diod Sic 3 57 who reports a non-Greek tradition)
14
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means queen ending in the suffix -y - Its origin is probably as a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v
βασιλεύς) from Mycenean qa-si-re-u
Category Names of gods
ΒασιλίσκοςBASILISKA serpent of small size no more than twelve inches long (about a handrsquos length) marked by a white spot on the head
is also distinguished from other snakes by traveling upright rather than slithering (erectus in medio incedens Plin
Nat Hist 8 33 78 Aelian Hist anim 2 5)One is tempted to identify it with the cobra Lucan (Bell Civ 724-26)
mentioned its death-bringing hiss including it in his comprehensive catalogue of snakes to which Dante alludes in the
Circle of Hell dedicated to thieves (Inf 24 85 ff) Not only its touch but its breath is destructive wherever it appears
(exurit herbas rumpit saxa) Its venom can pass through objects if it is true that one time as Pliny says a rider and
his horse were destroyed by poison traveling up the long spear used for killing the serpent cf also Aelian Nat anim 2
5 The power of its gaze is terrible anyone who meets it dies The only way to look upon it is ithrough the reflection of
a mirror just as Perseus had done with Medusa from whose blood all the reptiles of Libya arose (Lucan Bell Civ 696
ff) Alexander the Great during his campaign in India to defeat the horrible creature (cf Leo Neapol Hist de prelis
Alex Magni rec I 3 p 320 sec X) used the stratagem of putting mirrors on the shields of his soldiers The basiliskrsquos
mortal enemies are the weasel and the cock the first kills him with its own smell (Plin Nat hist 8 33 79) the
second protected travelers who passed through Libya (Aelian Nat anim 3 31) In Late Antique and Medieval bestiaries
its nature is linked to that of its enemy the cock it too can go on all fours or can assume plumage while keeping a
reptilian tail thus arose the basilgallo (basilicock in Chaucer) In the Middle Ages it had a negative connotation at
times relating it to the Devil (or Antichrist) to the sinner or heresy To St Antony of Padua (Sermoni) it represented
wrath Cecco dAscoli who was burned at the stake in 1327 on the charge of sorcery records that the basilisk is the
Lord of serpents (Acerba 30) The preconception has biblical roots Isaiah (59 5) mentions a poisonous reptile the
Hebrew tsepha that in the translation of the Septuagint became βασιλίσκος and in the Vulgate basiliscus It likewise
occurs in Jeremiah 8 17 and in Psalms 91 13 Modern translations more cautiously prefers asp viper serpent
The etymology is simple βασιλίσκος diminutive of βασιλεύς (a word already attested in Mycenaean qa-si-re-u)
means little king lat basiliscus and regulus designating the king of the serpents due to its terrible powers in
spite of its small size
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασσάραBASSARAName of a Thracian Bacchant (Athen 5 7 p 198)
15
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means fox but also suggests the clothing of the Thracian bacchants which were made from fox pelts it
is a term derived from a loan word perhaps linked to the cult of Dionysus (Chantraine DELG s v) cf the verb ἀνα-
βασσαρέω Anacr fr 11 6 (356) PMG to revel Braccini T Glotta 86 2010 pp 7-21
ΒάτωνBATONA Theban the relative and charioteer of Amphiaraus He was swallowed up along with him into a chasm that opened
in the earth in front of Thebes (Pausan 2 23 2 5 17 8 10 10 3)
The name may come from βάτος bramble and may mean bramble or one who inhabits the bramble
Category Names of heroes
ΒάττοςBATTUSThe name of an old man transformed into a rock by Hermes because he did not keep secret the theft of Apollos cattle
(Anton Lib Met 23) A more widely known character with this name is the founder of Cyrene the son of Polymnestus
and Phronima (Herodot 4 145 ff Callim Hymn 2 65 Pausan 3 14 3 10 15 6-7)
The name belongs to the family of the verb βατταρίζω to stutter and means the stutterer they are onomatopoetic
terms According to Herodotus (4 145 ff) it could signify king in Libyan Masson (Glotta 54 1976 pp 84-98) favors
the first interpretation since the words of Herodotus are general and we lack information on South-Eastern Libyan
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΒαυβώBAUBOEleusinian wife of Dysaules received Demeter into her home and tried to cheer her up by lifting her dress and exposing
herself to Demeter (Clem Alex Protr 2 21)
The name is derived from the colloquial verb βαυβάω to sleep but also took on the meaning of female sex A less
acceptable suggestion of Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 73) is a derivation from βαΰζω to murmur or from
πραΰνω to soothe which according to him are applicable to a governess
Category Female names
ΒαῦκιςBAUCISA Phrygian woman who together with her husband Philemon welcomed Zeus and Hermes they sent a flood upon all
the other villagers who had not welcomed them but transformed these two into trees and their hut into a temple
(Ovid Met 8 616-715)
16
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from βαυκός soft tender a folk word of uncertain etymology (Chantraine DELG) Room (Rooms
Classical Dictionary p 73) believes that it may have the same source as Baubo and in particular may be explained in
connection with πραΰνω to calm but such hypotheses are groundless
Category Female names
Theme Transformation
ΒελλεροφόντηςBELLEROPHONSon of Poseidon and the daughter of the king of Megara Iobates after he received a request from Proteus to kill the
hero commanded Bellerophon to slay the Chimera believing that this could not be done then sent him against the
Solymi the Amazons and Lydians until he recognized his divine nature (Hom Il 6 155-205 216-26)
Already in antiquity the name was interpreted as slayer of Belleros from the verb θείνω to slay that often appears
in the second part of compounds in the form -φόντης According to Kretschmer (Glotta 24 1936 pp 237-38 e 273
31 1951 pp 92 ff) this is an acceptable interpretation considering that Belleros is the name of a local demon On the
other hand Malten (Hermes 79 1944 pp 10 ff) views as a conjecture derived from popular imagination According
to Chantraine (DELG) supported also by Carnoy (DEMGR) Heubecks suggestion (Beitr Namenf 5 1954 pp 25-28)
that the name means full of strength being a compound of an Indo-European derivative bel- strength and ghwen
to swell up with cannot be proven
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΒῆλοςBELOSThe name of one of the two twin sons of the nymph Libya and Poseidon (the other was called Agenor) grandsons of
Epaphus (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4)
The name derives from the Semitic name of the god Baal Bel (Bernhard in Roscher Myth Lex I col 778)
Category Names of heroes
ΒιάνωρBIANORSon of the Tiber and the nymph Manto he founded the city of Mantua (Serv ad Verg Ecl 9 60)
This name is a compound of βιάω to tame to defeat and of ἀνήρ man and thus means he who forcefully tames
heroes Alternatively Pape- Benseler (WGE) translate it as a hard cruel violent man
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
17
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΒιήνωρBIENORTrojan captain with a Greek name called ποιmicroὴν λαῶν shepherd of people mentioned only once in Hom Il 11
92-93 when he was killed and stripped of his arms by Agamemnon together with his companion in arms and charioteer
Oileus
With the verbal sense of βια- it means ldquohe who with force dominates the enemy herordquo cf Bianor (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens I p 372-374) Elephenor Elpenor
Category Names of heroes
ΒορέαςBOREASGod of the North Wind the son of Eos and Astraeus brother of Zephyrus and Notus (Hes Theog 378)
One theory is that it means wind from the mountain related to Sanskrit giriacute- Avestan gairi- and ancient Slavic gora
mountain (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of gods
ΒῶροςBOROSBORUS1 Mentioned in Homer as the father of Phaestus Hom Il 5 44 he lived in Tarne Maeonia in the region of Smyrna
2 Another Borus in Homer (Il 16 177-178) son of Perieres was married to Polydora in Phthia Thessaly Polydora the
daughter of Peleus and Antigone 2 (Apollod Bibl 3 13 1) had a son Menesthius actually fathered by the river god
Spercheus (Il 16 173-176) 3 Son of Penthilus a descendant of Nestor grandson of Periclymenus had a son named
Andropompus who was the father of Melanthus who was expelled by the Hereclidae (Pausan 2 18 8)
The name probably is not Greek hence it is pointless to search for an explanation (as Pape-Benseler have done s v) by
resorting to the Hesychian gloss Βωροί ὀφθαλmicroοί eyes (Frisk GEW s v) Possibly related to the Βωρεῖς the name
of a tribe in Cyzicus (von Kamptz Homerische Personenn sect 81 pp 322)
Category Names of heroes
ΒουφάγοςBOUPHAGUSArcadian hero son of Iapetos and of Thornax killed by Artemis while chasing her on Mt Pholoe (Pausan 8 14 9 27 17)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of βοῦς ldquooxrdquo and the aorist φαγεῖν of the verb ἐσθίω ldquoto eatrdquo it therefore means ldquoeater
of oxenrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ΒούτηςBOUTESBUTESName of various people including 1 A son of Boreas father of Hippodamia (Diod Sic 4 70) who tried to kill his
half-brother Licurgus and once discovered fled from Thessaly to Naxos where he became a pirate (Diod Sic 5 50)
2 Another was the son of the king of Athens Pandion and Zeuxippe (Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) brother of Procne and
Philomela founder of the hereditary priesthood of the Athenian Eteobutadai 3 A third son of Teleon participated
in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 4 912-19) He was the only one who threw himself into the sea
after he heard the song of the Sirens overwhelmed by the song of Orpheus He was saved by Aphrodite and afterwards
founded the colony of Lilybaeum near Eryx on Sicily
Derived from βούς cow and simply means cowherd
Category Names of heroes
ΒουζύγηςBOUZYGESA mythical character to whom the invention of the yoke is attributed (Serv ad Verg Georg 1 19 Hesych s v)
The name is a simple compound of βούς cow and the verb ζεύγνυmicroι to join and therefore means yoker of cows
Category Names of heroes
ΒράγχοςBRANCHUSSon of Smycrus a hero orginally from Delphi but who settled in Miletus before his birth his mother had a vision of the
sun descending into her mouth passing through her body and out of her vulva He was beloved by Apollo who gave
him the gift of prophecy (Conon Narr 33)
The name derives from the adjective βραγχός hoarse a technical term whose etymology is not clear one could
perhaps compare old Irish brong(a)ide hoarseness (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ΒρέmicroουσαBREMUSAAccording to a late poem (IV cent CE) she is one of the 12 Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy Quint
Smyrn Posthom 1 43 she is killed by Idomeneus with a stroke of his spear to her right breast
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
22
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
26
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
27
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
28
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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(Glotta 49 1971 pp 21-24) supports the hypothesis already asserted by Heubeck (Gedenkschrift Brandenstein pp
357-61) that it derives from Ἀγα-microέν-microων with metathesis of νmicro gt microν the name would then derive from microένω to
resist with an expressive form of reduplication and would mean one who resists with vigor Van der Valk (in Snell
Lex fr Ep col 34) on the basis of analogy interprets it as an extremely energetic man full of vigor
Category Names of heroes
ἈγανίππηAGANIPPE1 Daughter of Termessos god of the river that flows around Helicon (Pausan 9 29 5 2) and so a Naiad the eponym
of the spring that flows out near the grove of the Muses on Mt Helicon in Boeotia later identified with the fountain
Hippocrene perhaps made to flow by the hoof of the winged horse Pegasos (Verg Eclog 10 12 Ovid Metam 5
262-263 Pausan 9 31 3-4) 2 As an alternative to Eurydike 2 (Schol ad Apollon Rhod 4 1091) she would be the
wife of Acrisius the mother of Danae and grandmother of Perseus Hygin Fab 63 3 A daughter of Aigyptos sacrificed
on the altar of the apotropaic gods in the late account of Ps Plut de fluviis 16 1 4 There exists a late masculine
form Ἀγάνιππος Trojan warrior killed by Ajax along with many companions in a non-Homeric tradition (Quint Smyrn
Posthom 3 227-231)
A compound of the adjective ἀγανός sweet soft and ἵππος mare it could mean tame mare
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ἈγαπήνωρAGAPENORSon of Ankaios and Io leader of the Arcadian contingent who came to the Trojan War from Tegea (Hom Il 2 609 ss)
The name is a compound of the verb ἀγαπάω to love and ἀνήρ man it could mean one who loves men or one
who loves manly courage Cf other personal names such as Ἀντ- ήνωρ Βι- ήνωρ Ἐλεφ- ήνωρ Πεισ- ήνωρ where
the nominal part of the compound seems to be particularly ἀνήρ while for Ὑπερ- ήνωρ the predominant sense is
apparently that of ἠνορέη manly courage which is also found in numerous adjectival compounds
Category Names of heroes
ἈγασθένηςAGASTHENESSon of Augeias brother of Phyleus and father of Polyxeinos who was commander of ten of the 40 ships in the contingent
sent from Elis (Hom Il 2 615-624) and who also appears in the catalog of the suitors of Helen Polyxeinos would
return safe and sound from Troy and would father a son by the name of Amphimachos 3 (Pausan 5 3 4)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
A name easily interpreted it is a compound of the intensive prefix ἀγα- and -σθένος strength very productive in
Greek personal names and so means endowed with great strength (von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 31 a
2 p 89) cf Demosthenes Eurysthenes Megasthenes etc
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάστροφοςAGASTROPHOSIn Homer a Trojan warrior the son of Paion killed by Diomedes by a blow of a spear to the buttocks while fighting
in the front lines on foot after having foolishly separated himself from his chariot and his charioteer (Hom Il 11
338-342 368 Diomedes was struck on the foot by a arrow while trying to strip him of his armor 11 373 cfr Scholia
ad l Eustath 320712 ad l Etym Gudianum 235 15 s v Ἠγαθέη in a compound with ἀγα-)
Wathelet (Dictionnaire des Troyens n 5 pp 148-149) attempts to link this personal name and the military event in
which he is involved ineffectually It may mean des sehr Wendige that is very nimble in movement (von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 22 a 1 p 71) cfr Epistrophos impetuous in attack) so one who turns aggressively
against the enemy from the prefix ἀγα- active in many compounds and the verb στρέφω rotate turn spin
around Less probable (but possible) is he who knows how to turn a chariot in excellent fashion
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάθωνAGATHONSon of Priam cited only once in the last book of Hom Il 24 with the epithet δῖος ldquoillustriousrdquo with eight of his
brothers and half-brothers he was reproached by his elderly father who impatiently waited to have his chariot prepared
so that he could go to reclaim the body of Hector
A simple formation with the suffix -ων from the adjective ἀγαθός goodly capable with recessive accent
Mycenaean recognizes a genitive a-ka-ta-jo-jo (PY En 659) which can be rendered as Ἀγαθαῖος (but also as Ἀκταῖος)
It does not seem necessary to consider it a hypocorism for Agathocles or Agathodoros (Wathelet Dictionnaire des
Troyens I p 147) the name is in any case very common in Greek and it is one of the many examples of entirely
Greek personal names in the Trojan camp
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαυήAGAVEDaughter of Kadmos and of Harmonia mother of Pentheus (Hes Theog 975 ss Eurip Bacch passim) sister of Semele
Ino and Autonoe Another Agave less well-known appears among the Nereids (Hom Il 18 42)
10
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from ἀγαυός admirable noble illustrious an adjective related to the verb ἄγαmicroαι to admire
marvel at (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγαυός)
ἈγέλαοςAGELAOSA rather popular name in Homer we find 1 a Greek officer who was killed along with eight other commanders
(ἡγεmicroόνες) by Hektor in Hom Il 11 301-304 2 a Trojan warrior son of Phradmon the first to have been killed by
Diomedes who after having crossed the ditch with his horses stabbed him with a javelin between his shoulders forcing
it through his chest and making him fall from his chariot in his armor (Hom Il 8 253-260) 3 a slave of Priam who was
charged by the king with exposing Paris on mount Ida but shortly afterwards he was moved by pity and raised the baby
as his own Apollod Bibl 3 12 5 (149-150) 4 one of the suitors of Penelope son of Damastor who tried to convince
Telemachos to agree to allow him to marry his mother (Hom Od 20 321 ss) He urged on Melanthius and other to exit
the hall and raise the alarm during the slaughter of the suitors (Od 22 131 136 212) and was killed by Odysseus with
a spear-blow (Od 22 292-293) 5 son of Herakles and of Omphale ancestor of the kings of Lydia Apollod Bibl 2 7
8 (165) 6 son of Oineus king of Calydon and brother of Meleagros Antonin Lib Metam 2
A compound of the verb ἄγω ldquoto guide leadrdquo and of the substantive λαός ldquopeople in armsrdquo analogous to Agenor
it is perhaps already attested in the Mycenaean a-ke-ra-wo KN Vc 316 (also read Ἀρχέλαος) where there exists also
the nomen agentis ra-wa-ke-ta (PY Un 718 9 etc) usually interpreted as λαϜ-αγέτας ldquoleader of armed troopsrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈγήνωρAGENOR1 Son of Poseidon and Libya and father of Europa Kadmos Phoinix and Cilix (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4 3 1) and
descendant of Argive Io 2 Among other characters with this name there is a Trojan hero son of Antenor frequently
mentioned in the Iliad (21 544-599 e passim)
The name means ldquohe who leads the men valiantrdquo as it is a compound of ἄγω ldquoto leadrdquo and of ἀνήρ man By
contrast Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 32) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 99) maintain that
the first part of the name is the intensive prefix ἀγα- and that the name means ldquoextremely manly courageousrdquo The
first interpretation seems preferable by far because compounds in ἀγα- are most often formed from verbs (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens de lIliade p 154)
Category Names of heroes
ἈγλαίαAGLAIAName of one of the Graces or Charites (Hes Theog 69 907 ss)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It is derived from the adjective ἀγλαός illustrious shining and means she who displays radiance beauty
Category Names of gods
ἌγριοςAGRIOS1 A giant who was killed along with Thoas by the Moirai in the Gigantomachy when these two sons of Gaia fought
against the gods (Apollod Bibl 1 6 2) 2 Son of Portheus and brother of Oineus (king of Calydon in Aitolia grandfather
of Diomedes) and of Melas with whom he lived in Pleuron (Hom Il 14 116-118) He had six children including
Thersites who deposed Oineus in favor of their own father before departing for the Trojan War (Apollod Bibl 1 8 68)
According to Hyginus after the fall of the city Diomedes learned that his grandfather had been deposed and ousted
Agrios who committed suicide because of it (Hygin Fab 175 242 and Antonin Lib Metam 37 1) 3 Centaur that
Heracles drove off by throwing red-hot coals at him when he drawn by the smell of wine rushed to the wine-jar of
Pholos which had been opened during the heros fourth labor when he was passing through Arcadia (Apollod Bibl 2 5
4) 4 Brother of Oreios he was a Thracian giant born of Polyphonte and a bear he and his brother would haul strangers
off and devour them He was transformed by the gods into a vulture to punish him for his cruel bestiality (Antonin Lib
Metam 21) 5 Son of Circe and Odysseus brother of Latinos and of Telegonos (Hes Theog 1011-1014)
Derived directly from the adjective ἄγριος uncultivated or not domesticated even savage violent Von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 4 b 1 p 14 compares it to the compound Μελέαγρος not coincidentally his nephew
Since the countryside as an uncultivated area is normally fitting for activity connected to hunting one could easily
explain that the term ἄγριος could mean either ldquohe who nurtures the landrdquo (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγρός) or ldquohe
who hunts in an uncultivated areardquo
Category Names of heroes
ἌγρωνAGRONName of an inhabitant of the island of Cos who along with his sisters Byssa and Meropis worshiped only the Earth and
insulted the other gods who in revenge transformed him into a plover (Anton Lib Met 15 from Boios Ornithogonia)
It possibly derives from ἀγρός field land and means something like lover of fields man of the country
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Transformation
ΑἴαςAIAS (AJAX)Name of two Homeric heroes 1 the son of Oileus of Locris (Hom Il 13 46 23 754) 2 the son of Telamon king
of Salamis (Hom Il 2 553 7 183) he killed himself by falling on his sword cf Sophocles tragedy Aias which is
dedicated to him
Various theories have been proposed as to how to interpret this name 1) already in antiquity it was connected to
αἰετός eagle (Hes Fr 250 = Schol ad Pind Isth 6 53 Apollod Bibl 3 12 7) a complete invention 2) it could be
related to αἶα land (Chantraine DELG von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 168 Van der Valk in Snell Lex
12
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
fr Ep col 232) and would mean man of the earth or the descendant of Aia 3) already attested in Mycenaean ai-
wa (Kn Np 973) perhaps as a bovine name it could be interpreted as a hypocorism of Αἴολος alive from the Indo-
European aiu+unt- he who has dynamic strength vigorous (Muumlhlestein Studi Micenei 2 1967 pp 41-52 Carnoy
DEMGR and von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 368)
Category Names of heroes
ἈλέκτωρALEKTORName of different figures including 1) the son of Anaxagoras (Apollod Bibl 3 6 2) 2) the son of Epeios (Diod Sic
4 69) 3) the son of Argeios grandson of Pelops he is the father of Iphiloche or Echemela (Schol ad Hom Od 4 10)
whom Menelaos gave in matrimony to Megapenthes 4) the father of the Argonaut Leitos (Apollod Bibl 1 9 16)
Already attested in Mycenaean a-re-ko-to-re (KN Ce 1521) it is a nomen agentis in -τωρ from the verb ἀλέκω ldquoto
defend repelrdquo and thus means ldquothe defenderrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈλεκτρύωνALEKTRYONName of the sentry assigned by Ares to inform him about the approach of day while the god was occupied in his affair
with Aphrodite (Eustath ad Hom 1598 61) it is obviously an allusion to the cock-crow
It is attested in Mycenaean in the form A-re-ku-tu-ru-wo (PY An 6548) It means ldquoroosterrdquo and is formed from ἀλέκτωρ
ldquodefenderrdquo since it refers to a combative animal (Chantraine DELG s v ἀλέξω) Ruijgh (Minos 9 1968 p 153)
prefers to interpret it instead as a derivative of ἄλεκτρον a defensive implement
ἈλήτηςALETESSon of Hippotes descendant of Herakles born during the return of the Herakleidai (Pausan 2 4 4 5 18 8)
It means wanderer vagabond and is the nomen agentis of the verb ἀλάοmicroαι to wander (Chantraine DELG s v
ἀλάοmicroαι)
Category Names of heroes
ἈφροδίτηAPHRODITEGoddess of love (Hom Il 5 820 and passim Hymn Hom ad Ven Hes Theog 190 ff) born of the foam of the sea
and the genitals of Ouranos or according to another tradition of Zeus and Dione
She is a goddess of Near Eastern origin and later there arises a folk etymology that interprets the name as coming from
ἀφρός foam (Plat Crat 406 c) οὕνεκ ἐν ἀφρῷ θρέφθη (Hes Theog 197-198) The theory of Grimme (Glotta 14
1925 p 18) who proposes an association with the Semitic goddess of fertility Astoret has not been proven nor has
that of Hammarstroumlm (Glotta 11 1921 pp 214 ff) who compares this name with the pre-Indo-European πρύτανις
13
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Etruscan (e)pr ni this latter hypothesis is also maintained by Carnoy (DEMGR) but with the help of Pelasgian phonology
according to which p would become ph
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ἈθήνηATHENAA goddess daughter of Zeus and Metis born from the head of the god (Hes Theog 886 ss)
This name is already attested in Mycenaean in the form of a-ta-na-po-ti-ni-ja (KN V 521 52 bis) and is difficult to
explain Carnoy (DEMGR) supports the Pelasgic hypothesis of Van Windekens (Le Peacutelasgique pp 40-41) according to
whom the initial Ath- is a Pelasgic form of the Indo-European at-no Sanskrit atta mother with the change t gt th
but Athena does not have maternal characteristics in the historical period It is possible that it is a pre-Hellenic name
(cfr van der Valk in Snell Lex fr Ep col 208)
Category Names of gods
ΒαῖοςBAIOS or BAEUSHelmsman of Odysseus whose name was supposedly given to various places for instance a mountain on the island of
Cephalonia and the town of Baia in Campania (Strab 1 p 26 5 p 245 Lycophr Alex 694) The name only occurs in
the post-classical period and does not appear in the Homeric poems
The name apparently derives from βαιός short unimportant with the recessive accent often found with
anthroponyms
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΒαλίοςBALIOS or BALIUSOne of the two immortal horses of Achilles (Xanthus) son of Zephyrus and the Harpy Podarge who was given to Peleus
by Poseidon perhaps on the occasion of Peleusrsquo wedding to Thetis The third horse of Achilles team was Pedasus who
was killed in battle 2 The horse of Celmis (or Schelmis) beaten in a race by the mare of Erechtheus named Podarce
(Nonn Dionys 37 334-337) 3 One of the dogs of Actaeon in Apollod Bibl 33 4 4
With a recessive accent Baliacuteos is simply derived from βαλιός speckled spotted
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασίλειαBASILEIAEldest daughter of Uranus and Titaia who distinguished herself from her sisters through her wisdom and intelligence she
married her brother Hyperion and gave birth to Selene and Helios (Diod Sic 3 57 who reports a non-Greek tradition)
14
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means queen ending in the suffix -y - Its origin is probably as a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v
βασιλεύς) from Mycenean qa-si-re-u
Category Names of gods
ΒασιλίσκοςBASILISKA serpent of small size no more than twelve inches long (about a handrsquos length) marked by a white spot on the head
is also distinguished from other snakes by traveling upright rather than slithering (erectus in medio incedens Plin
Nat Hist 8 33 78 Aelian Hist anim 2 5)One is tempted to identify it with the cobra Lucan (Bell Civ 724-26)
mentioned its death-bringing hiss including it in his comprehensive catalogue of snakes to which Dante alludes in the
Circle of Hell dedicated to thieves (Inf 24 85 ff) Not only its touch but its breath is destructive wherever it appears
(exurit herbas rumpit saxa) Its venom can pass through objects if it is true that one time as Pliny says a rider and
his horse were destroyed by poison traveling up the long spear used for killing the serpent cf also Aelian Nat anim 2
5 The power of its gaze is terrible anyone who meets it dies The only way to look upon it is ithrough the reflection of
a mirror just as Perseus had done with Medusa from whose blood all the reptiles of Libya arose (Lucan Bell Civ 696
ff) Alexander the Great during his campaign in India to defeat the horrible creature (cf Leo Neapol Hist de prelis
Alex Magni rec I 3 p 320 sec X) used the stratagem of putting mirrors on the shields of his soldiers The basiliskrsquos
mortal enemies are the weasel and the cock the first kills him with its own smell (Plin Nat hist 8 33 79) the
second protected travelers who passed through Libya (Aelian Nat anim 3 31) In Late Antique and Medieval bestiaries
its nature is linked to that of its enemy the cock it too can go on all fours or can assume plumage while keeping a
reptilian tail thus arose the basilgallo (basilicock in Chaucer) In the Middle Ages it had a negative connotation at
times relating it to the Devil (or Antichrist) to the sinner or heresy To St Antony of Padua (Sermoni) it represented
wrath Cecco dAscoli who was burned at the stake in 1327 on the charge of sorcery records that the basilisk is the
Lord of serpents (Acerba 30) The preconception has biblical roots Isaiah (59 5) mentions a poisonous reptile the
Hebrew tsepha that in the translation of the Septuagint became βασιλίσκος and in the Vulgate basiliscus It likewise
occurs in Jeremiah 8 17 and in Psalms 91 13 Modern translations more cautiously prefers asp viper serpent
The etymology is simple βασιλίσκος diminutive of βασιλεύς (a word already attested in Mycenaean qa-si-re-u)
means little king lat basiliscus and regulus designating the king of the serpents due to its terrible powers in
spite of its small size
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασσάραBASSARAName of a Thracian Bacchant (Athen 5 7 p 198)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means fox but also suggests the clothing of the Thracian bacchants which were made from fox pelts it
is a term derived from a loan word perhaps linked to the cult of Dionysus (Chantraine DELG s v) cf the verb ἀνα-
βασσαρέω Anacr fr 11 6 (356) PMG to revel Braccini T Glotta 86 2010 pp 7-21
ΒάτωνBATONA Theban the relative and charioteer of Amphiaraus He was swallowed up along with him into a chasm that opened
in the earth in front of Thebes (Pausan 2 23 2 5 17 8 10 10 3)
The name may come from βάτος bramble and may mean bramble or one who inhabits the bramble
Category Names of heroes
ΒάττοςBATTUSThe name of an old man transformed into a rock by Hermes because he did not keep secret the theft of Apollos cattle
(Anton Lib Met 23) A more widely known character with this name is the founder of Cyrene the son of Polymnestus
and Phronima (Herodot 4 145 ff Callim Hymn 2 65 Pausan 3 14 3 10 15 6-7)
The name belongs to the family of the verb βατταρίζω to stutter and means the stutterer they are onomatopoetic
terms According to Herodotus (4 145 ff) it could signify king in Libyan Masson (Glotta 54 1976 pp 84-98) favors
the first interpretation since the words of Herodotus are general and we lack information on South-Eastern Libyan
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΒαυβώBAUBOEleusinian wife of Dysaules received Demeter into her home and tried to cheer her up by lifting her dress and exposing
herself to Demeter (Clem Alex Protr 2 21)
The name is derived from the colloquial verb βαυβάω to sleep but also took on the meaning of female sex A less
acceptable suggestion of Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 73) is a derivation from βαΰζω to murmur or from
πραΰνω to soothe which according to him are applicable to a governess
Category Female names
ΒαῦκιςBAUCISA Phrygian woman who together with her husband Philemon welcomed Zeus and Hermes they sent a flood upon all
the other villagers who had not welcomed them but transformed these two into trees and their hut into a temple
(Ovid Met 8 616-715)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from βαυκός soft tender a folk word of uncertain etymology (Chantraine DELG) Room (Rooms
Classical Dictionary p 73) believes that it may have the same source as Baubo and in particular may be explained in
connection with πραΰνω to calm but such hypotheses are groundless
Category Female names
Theme Transformation
ΒελλεροφόντηςBELLEROPHONSon of Poseidon and the daughter of the king of Megara Iobates after he received a request from Proteus to kill the
hero commanded Bellerophon to slay the Chimera believing that this could not be done then sent him against the
Solymi the Amazons and Lydians until he recognized his divine nature (Hom Il 6 155-205 216-26)
Already in antiquity the name was interpreted as slayer of Belleros from the verb θείνω to slay that often appears
in the second part of compounds in the form -φόντης According to Kretschmer (Glotta 24 1936 pp 237-38 e 273
31 1951 pp 92 ff) this is an acceptable interpretation considering that Belleros is the name of a local demon On the
other hand Malten (Hermes 79 1944 pp 10 ff) views as a conjecture derived from popular imagination According
to Chantraine (DELG) supported also by Carnoy (DEMGR) Heubecks suggestion (Beitr Namenf 5 1954 pp 25-28)
that the name means full of strength being a compound of an Indo-European derivative bel- strength and ghwen
to swell up with cannot be proven
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΒῆλοςBELOSThe name of one of the two twin sons of the nymph Libya and Poseidon (the other was called Agenor) grandsons of
Epaphus (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4)
The name derives from the Semitic name of the god Baal Bel (Bernhard in Roscher Myth Lex I col 778)
Category Names of heroes
ΒιάνωρBIANORSon of the Tiber and the nymph Manto he founded the city of Mantua (Serv ad Verg Ecl 9 60)
This name is a compound of βιάω to tame to defeat and of ἀνήρ man and thus means he who forcefully tames
heroes Alternatively Pape- Benseler (WGE) translate it as a hard cruel violent man
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
17
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΒιήνωρBIENORTrojan captain with a Greek name called ποιmicroὴν λαῶν shepherd of people mentioned only once in Hom Il 11
92-93 when he was killed and stripped of his arms by Agamemnon together with his companion in arms and charioteer
Oileus
With the verbal sense of βια- it means ldquohe who with force dominates the enemy herordquo cf Bianor (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens I p 372-374) Elephenor Elpenor
Category Names of heroes
ΒορέαςBOREASGod of the North Wind the son of Eos and Astraeus brother of Zephyrus and Notus (Hes Theog 378)
One theory is that it means wind from the mountain related to Sanskrit giriacute- Avestan gairi- and ancient Slavic gora
mountain (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of gods
ΒῶροςBOROSBORUS1 Mentioned in Homer as the father of Phaestus Hom Il 5 44 he lived in Tarne Maeonia in the region of Smyrna
2 Another Borus in Homer (Il 16 177-178) son of Perieres was married to Polydora in Phthia Thessaly Polydora the
daughter of Peleus and Antigone 2 (Apollod Bibl 3 13 1) had a son Menesthius actually fathered by the river god
Spercheus (Il 16 173-176) 3 Son of Penthilus a descendant of Nestor grandson of Periclymenus had a son named
Andropompus who was the father of Melanthus who was expelled by the Hereclidae (Pausan 2 18 8)
The name probably is not Greek hence it is pointless to search for an explanation (as Pape-Benseler have done s v) by
resorting to the Hesychian gloss Βωροί ὀφθαλmicroοί eyes (Frisk GEW s v) Possibly related to the Βωρεῖς the name
of a tribe in Cyzicus (von Kamptz Homerische Personenn sect 81 pp 322)
Category Names of heroes
ΒουφάγοςBOUPHAGUSArcadian hero son of Iapetos and of Thornax killed by Artemis while chasing her on Mt Pholoe (Pausan 8 14 9 27 17)
18
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of βοῦς ldquooxrdquo and the aorist φαγεῖν of the verb ἐσθίω ldquoto eatrdquo it therefore means ldquoeater
of oxenrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ΒούτηςBOUTESBUTESName of various people including 1 A son of Boreas father of Hippodamia (Diod Sic 4 70) who tried to kill his
half-brother Licurgus and once discovered fled from Thessaly to Naxos where he became a pirate (Diod Sic 5 50)
2 Another was the son of the king of Athens Pandion and Zeuxippe (Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) brother of Procne and
Philomela founder of the hereditary priesthood of the Athenian Eteobutadai 3 A third son of Teleon participated
in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 4 912-19) He was the only one who threw himself into the sea
after he heard the song of the Sirens overwhelmed by the song of Orpheus He was saved by Aphrodite and afterwards
founded the colony of Lilybaeum near Eryx on Sicily
Derived from βούς cow and simply means cowherd
Category Names of heroes
ΒουζύγηςBOUZYGESA mythical character to whom the invention of the yoke is attributed (Serv ad Verg Georg 1 19 Hesych s v)
The name is a simple compound of βούς cow and the verb ζεύγνυmicroι to join and therefore means yoker of cows
Category Names of heroes
ΒράγχοςBRANCHUSSon of Smycrus a hero orginally from Delphi but who settled in Miletus before his birth his mother had a vision of the
sun descending into her mouth passing through her body and out of her vulva He was beloved by Apollo who gave
him the gift of prophecy (Conon Narr 33)
The name derives from the adjective βραγχός hoarse a technical term whose etymology is not clear one could
perhaps compare old Irish brong(a)ide hoarseness (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ΒρέmicroουσαBREMUSAAccording to a late poem (IV cent CE) she is one of the 12 Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy Quint
Smyrn Posthom 1 43 she is killed by Idomeneus with a stroke of his spear to her right breast
19
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
20
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
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ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
27
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
32
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
33
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
34
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
35
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
36
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
37
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
38
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
A name easily interpreted it is a compound of the intensive prefix ἀγα- and -σθένος strength very productive in
Greek personal names and so means endowed with great strength (von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 31 a
2 p 89) cf Demosthenes Eurysthenes Megasthenes etc
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάστροφοςAGASTROPHOSIn Homer a Trojan warrior the son of Paion killed by Diomedes by a blow of a spear to the buttocks while fighting
in the front lines on foot after having foolishly separated himself from his chariot and his charioteer (Hom Il 11
338-342 368 Diomedes was struck on the foot by a arrow while trying to strip him of his armor 11 373 cfr Scholia
ad l Eustath 320712 ad l Etym Gudianum 235 15 s v Ἠγαθέη in a compound with ἀγα-)
Wathelet (Dictionnaire des Troyens n 5 pp 148-149) attempts to link this personal name and the military event in
which he is involved ineffectually It may mean des sehr Wendige that is very nimble in movement (von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 22 a 1 p 71) cfr Epistrophos impetuous in attack) so one who turns aggressively
against the enemy from the prefix ἀγα- active in many compounds and the verb στρέφω rotate turn spin
around Less probable (but possible) is he who knows how to turn a chariot in excellent fashion
Category Names of heroes
ἈγάθωνAGATHONSon of Priam cited only once in the last book of Hom Il 24 with the epithet δῖος ldquoillustriousrdquo with eight of his
brothers and half-brothers he was reproached by his elderly father who impatiently waited to have his chariot prepared
so that he could go to reclaim the body of Hector
A simple formation with the suffix -ων from the adjective ἀγαθός goodly capable with recessive accent
Mycenaean recognizes a genitive a-ka-ta-jo-jo (PY En 659) which can be rendered as Ἀγαθαῖος (but also as Ἀκταῖος)
It does not seem necessary to consider it a hypocorism for Agathocles or Agathodoros (Wathelet Dictionnaire des
Troyens I p 147) the name is in any case very common in Greek and it is one of the many examples of entirely
Greek personal names in the Trojan camp
Category Names of heroes
ἈγαυήAGAVEDaughter of Kadmos and of Harmonia mother of Pentheus (Hes Theog 975 ss Eurip Bacch passim) sister of Semele
Ino and Autonoe Another Agave less well-known appears among the Nereids (Hom Il 18 42)
10
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from ἀγαυός admirable noble illustrious an adjective related to the verb ἄγαmicroαι to admire
marvel at (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγαυός)
ἈγέλαοςAGELAOSA rather popular name in Homer we find 1 a Greek officer who was killed along with eight other commanders
(ἡγεmicroόνες) by Hektor in Hom Il 11 301-304 2 a Trojan warrior son of Phradmon the first to have been killed by
Diomedes who after having crossed the ditch with his horses stabbed him with a javelin between his shoulders forcing
it through his chest and making him fall from his chariot in his armor (Hom Il 8 253-260) 3 a slave of Priam who was
charged by the king with exposing Paris on mount Ida but shortly afterwards he was moved by pity and raised the baby
as his own Apollod Bibl 3 12 5 (149-150) 4 one of the suitors of Penelope son of Damastor who tried to convince
Telemachos to agree to allow him to marry his mother (Hom Od 20 321 ss) He urged on Melanthius and other to exit
the hall and raise the alarm during the slaughter of the suitors (Od 22 131 136 212) and was killed by Odysseus with
a spear-blow (Od 22 292-293) 5 son of Herakles and of Omphale ancestor of the kings of Lydia Apollod Bibl 2 7
8 (165) 6 son of Oineus king of Calydon and brother of Meleagros Antonin Lib Metam 2
A compound of the verb ἄγω ldquoto guide leadrdquo and of the substantive λαός ldquopeople in armsrdquo analogous to Agenor
it is perhaps already attested in the Mycenaean a-ke-ra-wo KN Vc 316 (also read Ἀρχέλαος) where there exists also
the nomen agentis ra-wa-ke-ta (PY Un 718 9 etc) usually interpreted as λαϜ-αγέτας ldquoleader of armed troopsrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈγήνωρAGENOR1 Son of Poseidon and Libya and father of Europa Kadmos Phoinix and Cilix (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4 3 1) and
descendant of Argive Io 2 Among other characters with this name there is a Trojan hero son of Antenor frequently
mentioned in the Iliad (21 544-599 e passim)
The name means ldquohe who leads the men valiantrdquo as it is a compound of ἄγω ldquoto leadrdquo and of ἀνήρ man By
contrast Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 32) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 99) maintain that
the first part of the name is the intensive prefix ἀγα- and that the name means ldquoextremely manly courageousrdquo The
first interpretation seems preferable by far because compounds in ἀγα- are most often formed from verbs (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens de lIliade p 154)
Category Names of heroes
ἈγλαίαAGLAIAName of one of the Graces or Charites (Hes Theog 69 907 ss)
11
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It is derived from the adjective ἀγλαός illustrious shining and means she who displays radiance beauty
Category Names of gods
ἌγριοςAGRIOS1 A giant who was killed along with Thoas by the Moirai in the Gigantomachy when these two sons of Gaia fought
against the gods (Apollod Bibl 1 6 2) 2 Son of Portheus and brother of Oineus (king of Calydon in Aitolia grandfather
of Diomedes) and of Melas with whom he lived in Pleuron (Hom Il 14 116-118) He had six children including
Thersites who deposed Oineus in favor of their own father before departing for the Trojan War (Apollod Bibl 1 8 68)
According to Hyginus after the fall of the city Diomedes learned that his grandfather had been deposed and ousted
Agrios who committed suicide because of it (Hygin Fab 175 242 and Antonin Lib Metam 37 1) 3 Centaur that
Heracles drove off by throwing red-hot coals at him when he drawn by the smell of wine rushed to the wine-jar of
Pholos which had been opened during the heros fourth labor when he was passing through Arcadia (Apollod Bibl 2 5
4) 4 Brother of Oreios he was a Thracian giant born of Polyphonte and a bear he and his brother would haul strangers
off and devour them He was transformed by the gods into a vulture to punish him for his cruel bestiality (Antonin Lib
Metam 21) 5 Son of Circe and Odysseus brother of Latinos and of Telegonos (Hes Theog 1011-1014)
Derived directly from the adjective ἄγριος uncultivated or not domesticated even savage violent Von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 4 b 1 p 14 compares it to the compound Μελέαγρος not coincidentally his nephew
Since the countryside as an uncultivated area is normally fitting for activity connected to hunting one could easily
explain that the term ἄγριος could mean either ldquohe who nurtures the landrdquo (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγρός) or ldquohe
who hunts in an uncultivated areardquo
Category Names of heroes
ἌγρωνAGRONName of an inhabitant of the island of Cos who along with his sisters Byssa and Meropis worshiped only the Earth and
insulted the other gods who in revenge transformed him into a plover (Anton Lib Met 15 from Boios Ornithogonia)
It possibly derives from ἀγρός field land and means something like lover of fields man of the country
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Transformation
ΑἴαςAIAS (AJAX)Name of two Homeric heroes 1 the son of Oileus of Locris (Hom Il 13 46 23 754) 2 the son of Telamon king
of Salamis (Hom Il 2 553 7 183) he killed himself by falling on his sword cf Sophocles tragedy Aias which is
dedicated to him
Various theories have been proposed as to how to interpret this name 1) already in antiquity it was connected to
αἰετός eagle (Hes Fr 250 = Schol ad Pind Isth 6 53 Apollod Bibl 3 12 7) a complete invention 2) it could be
related to αἶα land (Chantraine DELG von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 168 Van der Valk in Snell Lex
12
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
fr Ep col 232) and would mean man of the earth or the descendant of Aia 3) already attested in Mycenaean ai-
wa (Kn Np 973) perhaps as a bovine name it could be interpreted as a hypocorism of Αἴολος alive from the Indo-
European aiu+unt- he who has dynamic strength vigorous (Muumlhlestein Studi Micenei 2 1967 pp 41-52 Carnoy
DEMGR and von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 368)
Category Names of heroes
ἈλέκτωρALEKTORName of different figures including 1) the son of Anaxagoras (Apollod Bibl 3 6 2) 2) the son of Epeios (Diod Sic
4 69) 3) the son of Argeios grandson of Pelops he is the father of Iphiloche or Echemela (Schol ad Hom Od 4 10)
whom Menelaos gave in matrimony to Megapenthes 4) the father of the Argonaut Leitos (Apollod Bibl 1 9 16)
Already attested in Mycenaean a-re-ko-to-re (KN Ce 1521) it is a nomen agentis in -τωρ from the verb ἀλέκω ldquoto
defend repelrdquo and thus means ldquothe defenderrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈλεκτρύωνALEKTRYONName of the sentry assigned by Ares to inform him about the approach of day while the god was occupied in his affair
with Aphrodite (Eustath ad Hom 1598 61) it is obviously an allusion to the cock-crow
It is attested in Mycenaean in the form A-re-ku-tu-ru-wo (PY An 6548) It means ldquoroosterrdquo and is formed from ἀλέκτωρ
ldquodefenderrdquo since it refers to a combative animal (Chantraine DELG s v ἀλέξω) Ruijgh (Minos 9 1968 p 153)
prefers to interpret it instead as a derivative of ἄλεκτρον a defensive implement
ἈλήτηςALETESSon of Hippotes descendant of Herakles born during the return of the Herakleidai (Pausan 2 4 4 5 18 8)
It means wanderer vagabond and is the nomen agentis of the verb ἀλάοmicroαι to wander (Chantraine DELG s v
ἀλάοmicroαι)
Category Names of heroes
ἈφροδίτηAPHRODITEGoddess of love (Hom Il 5 820 and passim Hymn Hom ad Ven Hes Theog 190 ff) born of the foam of the sea
and the genitals of Ouranos or according to another tradition of Zeus and Dione
She is a goddess of Near Eastern origin and later there arises a folk etymology that interprets the name as coming from
ἀφρός foam (Plat Crat 406 c) οὕνεκ ἐν ἀφρῷ θρέφθη (Hes Theog 197-198) The theory of Grimme (Glotta 14
1925 p 18) who proposes an association with the Semitic goddess of fertility Astoret has not been proven nor has
that of Hammarstroumlm (Glotta 11 1921 pp 214 ff) who compares this name with the pre-Indo-European πρύτανις
13
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Etruscan (e)pr ni this latter hypothesis is also maintained by Carnoy (DEMGR) but with the help of Pelasgian phonology
according to which p would become ph
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ἈθήνηATHENAA goddess daughter of Zeus and Metis born from the head of the god (Hes Theog 886 ss)
This name is already attested in Mycenaean in the form of a-ta-na-po-ti-ni-ja (KN V 521 52 bis) and is difficult to
explain Carnoy (DEMGR) supports the Pelasgic hypothesis of Van Windekens (Le Peacutelasgique pp 40-41) according to
whom the initial Ath- is a Pelasgic form of the Indo-European at-no Sanskrit atta mother with the change t gt th
but Athena does not have maternal characteristics in the historical period It is possible that it is a pre-Hellenic name
(cfr van der Valk in Snell Lex fr Ep col 208)
Category Names of gods
ΒαῖοςBAIOS or BAEUSHelmsman of Odysseus whose name was supposedly given to various places for instance a mountain on the island of
Cephalonia and the town of Baia in Campania (Strab 1 p 26 5 p 245 Lycophr Alex 694) The name only occurs in
the post-classical period and does not appear in the Homeric poems
The name apparently derives from βαιός short unimportant with the recessive accent often found with
anthroponyms
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΒαλίοςBALIOS or BALIUSOne of the two immortal horses of Achilles (Xanthus) son of Zephyrus and the Harpy Podarge who was given to Peleus
by Poseidon perhaps on the occasion of Peleusrsquo wedding to Thetis The third horse of Achilles team was Pedasus who
was killed in battle 2 The horse of Celmis (or Schelmis) beaten in a race by the mare of Erechtheus named Podarce
(Nonn Dionys 37 334-337) 3 One of the dogs of Actaeon in Apollod Bibl 33 4 4
With a recessive accent Baliacuteos is simply derived from βαλιός speckled spotted
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασίλειαBASILEIAEldest daughter of Uranus and Titaia who distinguished herself from her sisters through her wisdom and intelligence she
married her brother Hyperion and gave birth to Selene and Helios (Diod Sic 3 57 who reports a non-Greek tradition)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means queen ending in the suffix -y - Its origin is probably as a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v
βασιλεύς) from Mycenean qa-si-re-u
Category Names of gods
ΒασιλίσκοςBASILISKA serpent of small size no more than twelve inches long (about a handrsquos length) marked by a white spot on the head
is also distinguished from other snakes by traveling upright rather than slithering (erectus in medio incedens Plin
Nat Hist 8 33 78 Aelian Hist anim 2 5)One is tempted to identify it with the cobra Lucan (Bell Civ 724-26)
mentioned its death-bringing hiss including it in his comprehensive catalogue of snakes to which Dante alludes in the
Circle of Hell dedicated to thieves (Inf 24 85 ff) Not only its touch but its breath is destructive wherever it appears
(exurit herbas rumpit saxa) Its venom can pass through objects if it is true that one time as Pliny says a rider and
his horse were destroyed by poison traveling up the long spear used for killing the serpent cf also Aelian Nat anim 2
5 The power of its gaze is terrible anyone who meets it dies The only way to look upon it is ithrough the reflection of
a mirror just as Perseus had done with Medusa from whose blood all the reptiles of Libya arose (Lucan Bell Civ 696
ff) Alexander the Great during his campaign in India to defeat the horrible creature (cf Leo Neapol Hist de prelis
Alex Magni rec I 3 p 320 sec X) used the stratagem of putting mirrors on the shields of his soldiers The basiliskrsquos
mortal enemies are the weasel and the cock the first kills him with its own smell (Plin Nat hist 8 33 79) the
second protected travelers who passed through Libya (Aelian Nat anim 3 31) In Late Antique and Medieval bestiaries
its nature is linked to that of its enemy the cock it too can go on all fours or can assume plumage while keeping a
reptilian tail thus arose the basilgallo (basilicock in Chaucer) In the Middle Ages it had a negative connotation at
times relating it to the Devil (or Antichrist) to the sinner or heresy To St Antony of Padua (Sermoni) it represented
wrath Cecco dAscoli who was burned at the stake in 1327 on the charge of sorcery records that the basilisk is the
Lord of serpents (Acerba 30) The preconception has biblical roots Isaiah (59 5) mentions a poisonous reptile the
Hebrew tsepha that in the translation of the Septuagint became βασιλίσκος and in the Vulgate basiliscus It likewise
occurs in Jeremiah 8 17 and in Psalms 91 13 Modern translations more cautiously prefers asp viper serpent
The etymology is simple βασιλίσκος diminutive of βασιλεύς (a word already attested in Mycenaean qa-si-re-u)
means little king lat basiliscus and regulus designating the king of the serpents due to its terrible powers in
spite of its small size
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασσάραBASSARAName of a Thracian Bacchant (Athen 5 7 p 198)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means fox but also suggests the clothing of the Thracian bacchants which were made from fox pelts it
is a term derived from a loan word perhaps linked to the cult of Dionysus (Chantraine DELG s v) cf the verb ἀνα-
βασσαρέω Anacr fr 11 6 (356) PMG to revel Braccini T Glotta 86 2010 pp 7-21
ΒάτωνBATONA Theban the relative and charioteer of Amphiaraus He was swallowed up along with him into a chasm that opened
in the earth in front of Thebes (Pausan 2 23 2 5 17 8 10 10 3)
The name may come from βάτος bramble and may mean bramble or one who inhabits the bramble
Category Names of heroes
ΒάττοςBATTUSThe name of an old man transformed into a rock by Hermes because he did not keep secret the theft of Apollos cattle
(Anton Lib Met 23) A more widely known character with this name is the founder of Cyrene the son of Polymnestus
and Phronima (Herodot 4 145 ff Callim Hymn 2 65 Pausan 3 14 3 10 15 6-7)
The name belongs to the family of the verb βατταρίζω to stutter and means the stutterer they are onomatopoetic
terms According to Herodotus (4 145 ff) it could signify king in Libyan Masson (Glotta 54 1976 pp 84-98) favors
the first interpretation since the words of Herodotus are general and we lack information on South-Eastern Libyan
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΒαυβώBAUBOEleusinian wife of Dysaules received Demeter into her home and tried to cheer her up by lifting her dress and exposing
herself to Demeter (Clem Alex Protr 2 21)
The name is derived from the colloquial verb βαυβάω to sleep but also took on the meaning of female sex A less
acceptable suggestion of Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 73) is a derivation from βαΰζω to murmur or from
πραΰνω to soothe which according to him are applicable to a governess
Category Female names
ΒαῦκιςBAUCISA Phrygian woman who together with her husband Philemon welcomed Zeus and Hermes they sent a flood upon all
the other villagers who had not welcomed them but transformed these two into trees and their hut into a temple
(Ovid Met 8 616-715)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from βαυκός soft tender a folk word of uncertain etymology (Chantraine DELG) Room (Rooms
Classical Dictionary p 73) believes that it may have the same source as Baubo and in particular may be explained in
connection with πραΰνω to calm but such hypotheses are groundless
Category Female names
Theme Transformation
ΒελλεροφόντηςBELLEROPHONSon of Poseidon and the daughter of the king of Megara Iobates after he received a request from Proteus to kill the
hero commanded Bellerophon to slay the Chimera believing that this could not be done then sent him against the
Solymi the Amazons and Lydians until he recognized his divine nature (Hom Il 6 155-205 216-26)
Already in antiquity the name was interpreted as slayer of Belleros from the verb θείνω to slay that often appears
in the second part of compounds in the form -φόντης According to Kretschmer (Glotta 24 1936 pp 237-38 e 273
31 1951 pp 92 ff) this is an acceptable interpretation considering that Belleros is the name of a local demon On the
other hand Malten (Hermes 79 1944 pp 10 ff) views as a conjecture derived from popular imagination According
to Chantraine (DELG) supported also by Carnoy (DEMGR) Heubecks suggestion (Beitr Namenf 5 1954 pp 25-28)
that the name means full of strength being a compound of an Indo-European derivative bel- strength and ghwen
to swell up with cannot be proven
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΒῆλοςBELOSThe name of one of the two twin sons of the nymph Libya and Poseidon (the other was called Agenor) grandsons of
Epaphus (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4)
The name derives from the Semitic name of the god Baal Bel (Bernhard in Roscher Myth Lex I col 778)
Category Names of heroes
ΒιάνωρBIANORSon of the Tiber and the nymph Manto he founded the city of Mantua (Serv ad Verg Ecl 9 60)
This name is a compound of βιάω to tame to defeat and of ἀνήρ man and thus means he who forcefully tames
heroes Alternatively Pape- Benseler (WGE) translate it as a hard cruel violent man
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΒιήνωρBIENORTrojan captain with a Greek name called ποιmicroὴν λαῶν shepherd of people mentioned only once in Hom Il 11
92-93 when he was killed and stripped of his arms by Agamemnon together with his companion in arms and charioteer
Oileus
With the verbal sense of βια- it means ldquohe who with force dominates the enemy herordquo cf Bianor (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens I p 372-374) Elephenor Elpenor
Category Names of heroes
ΒορέαςBOREASGod of the North Wind the son of Eos and Astraeus brother of Zephyrus and Notus (Hes Theog 378)
One theory is that it means wind from the mountain related to Sanskrit giriacute- Avestan gairi- and ancient Slavic gora
mountain (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of gods
ΒῶροςBOROSBORUS1 Mentioned in Homer as the father of Phaestus Hom Il 5 44 he lived in Tarne Maeonia in the region of Smyrna
2 Another Borus in Homer (Il 16 177-178) son of Perieres was married to Polydora in Phthia Thessaly Polydora the
daughter of Peleus and Antigone 2 (Apollod Bibl 3 13 1) had a son Menesthius actually fathered by the river god
Spercheus (Il 16 173-176) 3 Son of Penthilus a descendant of Nestor grandson of Periclymenus had a son named
Andropompus who was the father of Melanthus who was expelled by the Hereclidae (Pausan 2 18 8)
The name probably is not Greek hence it is pointless to search for an explanation (as Pape-Benseler have done s v) by
resorting to the Hesychian gloss Βωροί ὀφθαλmicroοί eyes (Frisk GEW s v) Possibly related to the Βωρεῖς the name
of a tribe in Cyzicus (von Kamptz Homerische Personenn sect 81 pp 322)
Category Names of heroes
ΒουφάγοςBOUPHAGUSArcadian hero son of Iapetos and of Thornax killed by Artemis while chasing her on Mt Pholoe (Pausan 8 14 9 27 17)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of βοῦς ldquooxrdquo and the aorist φαγεῖν of the verb ἐσθίω ldquoto eatrdquo it therefore means ldquoeater
of oxenrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ΒούτηςBOUTESBUTESName of various people including 1 A son of Boreas father of Hippodamia (Diod Sic 4 70) who tried to kill his
half-brother Licurgus and once discovered fled from Thessaly to Naxos where he became a pirate (Diod Sic 5 50)
2 Another was the son of the king of Athens Pandion and Zeuxippe (Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) brother of Procne and
Philomela founder of the hereditary priesthood of the Athenian Eteobutadai 3 A third son of Teleon participated
in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 4 912-19) He was the only one who threw himself into the sea
after he heard the song of the Sirens overwhelmed by the song of Orpheus He was saved by Aphrodite and afterwards
founded the colony of Lilybaeum near Eryx on Sicily
Derived from βούς cow and simply means cowherd
Category Names of heroes
ΒουζύγηςBOUZYGESA mythical character to whom the invention of the yoke is attributed (Serv ad Verg Georg 1 19 Hesych s v)
The name is a simple compound of βούς cow and the verb ζεύγνυmicroι to join and therefore means yoker of cows
Category Names of heroes
ΒράγχοςBRANCHUSSon of Smycrus a hero orginally from Delphi but who settled in Miletus before his birth his mother had a vision of the
sun descending into her mouth passing through her body and out of her vulva He was beloved by Apollo who gave
him the gift of prophecy (Conon Narr 33)
The name derives from the adjective βραγχός hoarse a technical term whose etymology is not clear one could
perhaps compare old Irish brong(a)ide hoarseness (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ΒρέmicroουσαBREMUSAAccording to a late poem (IV cent CE) she is one of the 12 Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy Quint
Smyrn Posthom 1 43 she is killed by Idomeneus with a stroke of his spear to her right breast
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
20
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
21
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
22
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
23
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
24
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
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Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
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Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from ἀγαυός admirable noble illustrious an adjective related to the verb ἄγαmicroαι to admire
marvel at (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγαυός)
ἈγέλαοςAGELAOSA rather popular name in Homer we find 1 a Greek officer who was killed along with eight other commanders
(ἡγεmicroόνες) by Hektor in Hom Il 11 301-304 2 a Trojan warrior son of Phradmon the first to have been killed by
Diomedes who after having crossed the ditch with his horses stabbed him with a javelin between his shoulders forcing
it through his chest and making him fall from his chariot in his armor (Hom Il 8 253-260) 3 a slave of Priam who was
charged by the king with exposing Paris on mount Ida but shortly afterwards he was moved by pity and raised the baby
as his own Apollod Bibl 3 12 5 (149-150) 4 one of the suitors of Penelope son of Damastor who tried to convince
Telemachos to agree to allow him to marry his mother (Hom Od 20 321 ss) He urged on Melanthius and other to exit
the hall and raise the alarm during the slaughter of the suitors (Od 22 131 136 212) and was killed by Odysseus with
a spear-blow (Od 22 292-293) 5 son of Herakles and of Omphale ancestor of the kings of Lydia Apollod Bibl 2 7
8 (165) 6 son of Oineus king of Calydon and brother of Meleagros Antonin Lib Metam 2
A compound of the verb ἄγω ldquoto guide leadrdquo and of the substantive λαός ldquopeople in armsrdquo analogous to Agenor
it is perhaps already attested in the Mycenaean a-ke-ra-wo KN Vc 316 (also read Ἀρχέλαος) where there exists also
the nomen agentis ra-wa-ke-ta (PY Un 718 9 etc) usually interpreted as λαϜ-αγέτας ldquoleader of armed troopsrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈγήνωρAGENOR1 Son of Poseidon and Libya and father of Europa Kadmos Phoinix and Cilix (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4 3 1) and
descendant of Argive Io 2 Among other characters with this name there is a Trojan hero son of Antenor frequently
mentioned in the Iliad (21 544-599 e passim)
The name means ldquohe who leads the men valiantrdquo as it is a compound of ἄγω ldquoto leadrdquo and of ἀνήρ man By
contrast Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 32) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 99) maintain that
the first part of the name is the intensive prefix ἀγα- and that the name means ldquoextremely manly courageousrdquo The
first interpretation seems preferable by far because compounds in ἀγα- are most often formed from verbs (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens de lIliade p 154)
Category Names of heroes
ἈγλαίαAGLAIAName of one of the Graces or Charites (Hes Theog 69 907 ss)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It is derived from the adjective ἀγλαός illustrious shining and means she who displays radiance beauty
Category Names of gods
ἌγριοςAGRIOS1 A giant who was killed along with Thoas by the Moirai in the Gigantomachy when these two sons of Gaia fought
against the gods (Apollod Bibl 1 6 2) 2 Son of Portheus and brother of Oineus (king of Calydon in Aitolia grandfather
of Diomedes) and of Melas with whom he lived in Pleuron (Hom Il 14 116-118) He had six children including
Thersites who deposed Oineus in favor of their own father before departing for the Trojan War (Apollod Bibl 1 8 68)
According to Hyginus after the fall of the city Diomedes learned that his grandfather had been deposed and ousted
Agrios who committed suicide because of it (Hygin Fab 175 242 and Antonin Lib Metam 37 1) 3 Centaur that
Heracles drove off by throwing red-hot coals at him when he drawn by the smell of wine rushed to the wine-jar of
Pholos which had been opened during the heros fourth labor when he was passing through Arcadia (Apollod Bibl 2 5
4) 4 Brother of Oreios he was a Thracian giant born of Polyphonte and a bear he and his brother would haul strangers
off and devour them He was transformed by the gods into a vulture to punish him for his cruel bestiality (Antonin Lib
Metam 21) 5 Son of Circe and Odysseus brother of Latinos and of Telegonos (Hes Theog 1011-1014)
Derived directly from the adjective ἄγριος uncultivated or not domesticated even savage violent Von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 4 b 1 p 14 compares it to the compound Μελέαγρος not coincidentally his nephew
Since the countryside as an uncultivated area is normally fitting for activity connected to hunting one could easily
explain that the term ἄγριος could mean either ldquohe who nurtures the landrdquo (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγρός) or ldquohe
who hunts in an uncultivated areardquo
Category Names of heroes
ἌγρωνAGRONName of an inhabitant of the island of Cos who along with his sisters Byssa and Meropis worshiped only the Earth and
insulted the other gods who in revenge transformed him into a plover (Anton Lib Met 15 from Boios Ornithogonia)
It possibly derives from ἀγρός field land and means something like lover of fields man of the country
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Transformation
ΑἴαςAIAS (AJAX)Name of two Homeric heroes 1 the son of Oileus of Locris (Hom Il 13 46 23 754) 2 the son of Telamon king
of Salamis (Hom Il 2 553 7 183) he killed himself by falling on his sword cf Sophocles tragedy Aias which is
dedicated to him
Various theories have been proposed as to how to interpret this name 1) already in antiquity it was connected to
αἰετός eagle (Hes Fr 250 = Schol ad Pind Isth 6 53 Apollod Bibl 3 12 7) a complete invention 2) it could be
related to αἶα land (Chantraine DELG von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 168 Van der Valk in Snell Lex
12
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
fr Ep col 232) and would mean man of the earth or the descendant of Aia 3) already attested in Mycenaean ai-
wa (Kn Np 973) perhaps as a bovine name it could be interpreted as a hypocorism of Αἴολος alive from the Indo-
European aiu+unt- he who has dynamic strength vigorous (Muumlhlestein Studi Micenei 2 1967 pp 41-52 Carnoy
DEMGR and von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 368)
Category Names of heroes
ἈλέκτωρALEKTORName of different figures including 1) the son of Anaxagoras (Apollod Bibl 3 6 2) 2) the son of Epeios (Diod Sic
4 69) 3) the son of Argeios grandson of Pelops he is the father of Iphiloche or Echemela (Schol ad Hom Od 4 10)
whom Menelaos gave in matrimony to Megapenthes 4) the father of the Argonaut Leitos (Apollod Bibl 1 9 16)
Already attested in Mycenaean a-re-ko-to-re (KN Ce 1521) it is a nomen agentis in -τωρ from the verb ἀλέκω ldquoto
defend repelrdquo and thus means ldquothe defenderrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈλεκτρύωνALEKTRYONName of the sentry assigned by Ares to inform him about the approach of day while the god was occupied in his affair
with Aphrodite (Eustath ad Hom 1598 61) it is obviously an allusion to the cock-crow
It is attested in Mycenaean in the form A-re-ku-tu-ru-wo (PY An 6548) It means ldquoroosterrdquo and is formed from ἀλέκτωρ
ldquodefenderrdquo since it refers to a combative animal (Chantraine DELG s v ἀλέξω) Ruijgh (Minos 9 1968 p 153)
prefers to interpret it instead as a derivative of ἄλεκτρον a defensive implement
ἈλήτηςALETESSon of Hippotes descendant of Herakles born during the return of the Herakleidai (Pausan 2 4 4 5 18 8)
It means wanderer vagabond and is the nomen agentis of the verb ἀλάοmicroαι to wander (Chantraine DELG s v
ἀλάοmicroαι)
Category Names of heroes
ἈφροδίτηAPHRODITEGoddess of love (Hom Il 5 820 and passim Hymn Hom ad Ven Hes Theog 190 ff) born of the foam of the sea
and the genitals of Ouranos or according to another tradition of Zeus and Dione
She is a goddess of Near Eastern origin and later there arises a folk etymology that interprets the name as coming from
ἀφρός foam (Plat Crat 406 c) οὕνεκ ἐν ἀφρῷ θρέφθη (Hes Theog 197-198) The theory of Grimme (Glotta 14
1925 p 18) who proposes an association with the Semitic goddess of fertility Astoret has not been proven nor has
that of Hammarstroumlm (Glotta 11 1921 pp 214 ff) who compares this name with the pre-Indo-European πρύτανις
13
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Etruscan (e)pr ni this latter hypothesis is also maintained by Carnoy (DEMGR) but with the help of Pelasgian phonology
according to which p would become ph
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ἈθήνηATHENAA goddess daughter of Zeus and Metis born from the head of the god (Hes Theog 886 ss)
This name is already attested in Mycenaean in the form of a-ta-na-po-ti-ni-ja (KN V 521 52 bis) and is difficult to
explain Carnoy (DEMGR) supports the Pelasgic hypothesis of Van Windekens (Le Peacutelasgique pp 40-41) according to
whom the initial Ath- is a Pelasgic form of the Indo-European at-no Sanskrit atta mother with the change t gt th
but Athena does not have maternal characteristics in the historical period It is possible that it is a pre-Hellenic name
(cfr van der Valk in Snell Lex fr Ep col 208)
Category Names of gods
ΒαῖοςBAIOS or BAEUSHelmsman of Odysseus whose name was supposedly given to various places for instance a mountain on the island of
Cephalonia and the town of Baia in Campania (Strab 1 p 26 5 p 245 Lycophr Alex 694) The name only occurs in
the post-classical period and does not appear in the Homeric poems
The name apparently derives from βαιός short unimportant with the recessive accent often found with
anthroponyms
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΒαλίοςBALIOS or BALIUSOne of the two immortal horses of Achilles (Xanthus) son of Zephyrus and the Harpy Podarge who was given to Peleus
by Poseidon perhaps on the occasion of Peleusrsquo wedding to Thetis The third horse of Achilles team was Pedasus who
was killed in battle 2 The horse of Celmis (or Schelmis) beaten in a race by the mare of Erechtheus named Podarce
(Nonn Dionys 37 334-337) 3 One of the dogs of Actaeon in Apollod Bibl 33 4 4
With a recessive accent Baliacuteos is simply derived from βαλιός speckled spotted
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασίλειαBASILEIAEldest daughter of Uranus and Titaia who distinguished herself from her sisters through her wisdom and intelligence she
married her brother Hyperion and gave birth to Selene and Helios (Diod Sic 3 57 who reports a non-Greek tradition)
14
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means queen ending in the suffix -y - Its origin is probably as a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v
βασιλεύς) from Mycenean qa-si-re-u
Category Names of gods
ΒασιλίσκοςBASILISKA serpent of small size no more than twelve inches long (about a handrsquos length) marked by a white spot on the head
is also distinguished from other snakes by traveling upright rather than slithering (erectus in medio incedens Plin
Nat Hist 8 33 78 Aelian Hist anim 2 5)One is tempted to identify it with the cobra Lucan (Bell Civ 724-26)
mentioned its death-bringing hiss including it in his comprehensive catalogue of snakes to which Dante alludes in the
Circle of Hell dedicated to thieves (Inf 24 85 ff) Not only its touch but its breath is destructive wherever it appears
(exurit herbas rumpit saxa) Its venom can pass through objects if it is true that one time as Pliny says a rider and
his horse were destroyed by poison traveling up the long spear used for killing the serpent cf also Aelian Nat anim 2
5 The power of its gaze is terrible anyone who meets it dies The only way to look upon it is ithrough the reflection of
a mirror just as Perseus had done with Medusa from whose blood all the reptiles of Libya arose (Lucan Bell Civ 696
ff) Alexander the Great during his campaign in India to defeat the horrible creature (cf Leo Neapol Hist de prelis
Alex Magni rec I 3 p 320 sec X) used the stratagem of putting mirrors on the shields of his soldiers The basiliskrsquos
mortal enemies are the weasel and the cock the first kills him with its own smell (Plin Nat hist 8 33 79) the
second protected travelers who passed through Libya (Aelian Nat anim 3 31) In Late Antique and Medieval bestiaries
its nature is linked to that of its enemy the cock it too can go on all fours or can assume plumage while keeping a
reptilian tail thus arose the basilgallo (basilicock in Chaucer) In the Middle Ages it had a negative connotation at
times relating it to the Devil (or Antichrist) to the sinner or heresy To St Antony of Padua (Sermoni) it represented
wrath Cecco dAscoli who was burned at the stake in 1327 on the charge of sorcery records that the basilisk is the
Lord of serpents (Acerba 30) The preconception has biblical roots Isaiah (59 5) mentions a poisonous reptile the
Hebrew tsepha that in the translation of the Septuagint became βασιλίσκος and in the Vulgate basiliscus It likewise
occurs in Jeremiah 8 17 and in Psalms 91 13 Modern translations more cautiously prefers asp viper serpent
The etymology is simple βασιλίσκος diminutive of βασιλεύς (a word already attested in Mycenaean qa-si-re-u)
means little king lat basiliscus and regulus designating the king of the serpents due to its terrible powers in
spite of its small size
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασσάραBASSARAName of a Thracian Bacchant (Athen 5 7 p 198)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means fox but also suggests the clothing of the Thracian bacchants which were made from fox pelts it
is a term derived from a loan word perhaps linked to the cult of Dionysus (Chantraine DELG s v) cf the verb ἀνα-
βασσαρέω Anacr fr 11 6 (356) PMG to revel Braccini T Glotta 86 2010 pp 7-21
ΒάτωνBATONA Theban the relative and charioteer of Amphiaraus He was swallowed up along with him into a chasm that opened
in the earth in front of Thebes (Pausan 2 23 2 5 17 8 10 10 3)
The name may come from βάτος bramble and may mean bramble or one who inhabits the bramble
Category Names of heroes
ΒάττοςBATTUSThe name of an old man transformed into a rock by Hermes because he did not keep secret the theft of Apollos cattle
(Anton Lib Met 23) A more widely known character with this name is the founder of Cyrene the son of Polymnestus
and Phronima (Herodot 4 145 ff Callim Hymn 2 65 Pausan 3 14 3 10 15 6-7)
The name belongs to the family of the verb βατταρίζω to stutter and means the stutterer they are onomatopoetic
terms According to Herodotus (4 145 ff) it could signify king in Libyan Masson (Glotta 54 1976 pp 84-98) favors
the first interpretation since the words of Herodotus are general and we lack information on South-Eastern Libyan
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΒαυβώBAUBOEleusinian wife of Dysaules received Demeter into her home and tried to cheer her up by lifting her dress and exposing
herself to Demeter (Clem Alex Protr 2 21)
The name is derived from the colloquial verb βαυβάω to sleep but also took on the meaning of female sex A less
acceptable suggestion of Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 73) is a derivation from βαΰζω to murmur or from
πραΰνω to soothe which according to him are applicable to a governess
Category Female names
ΒαῦκιςBAUCISA Phrygian woman who together with her husband Philemon welcomed Zeus and Hermes they sent a flood upon all
the other villagers who had not welcomed them but transformed these two into trees and their hut into a temple
(Ovid Met 8 616-715)
16
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from βαυκός soft tender a folk word of uncertain etymology (Chantraine DELG) Room (Rooms
Classical Dictionary p 73) believes that it may have the same source as Baubo and in particular may be explained in
connection with πραΰνω to calm but such hypotheses are groundless
Category Female names
Theme Transformation
ΒελλεροφόντηςBELLEROPHONSon of Poseidon and the daughter of the king of Megara Iobates after he received a request from Proteus to kill the
hero commanded Bellerophon to slay the Chimera believing that this could not be done then sent him against the
Solymi the Amazons and Lydians until he recognized his divine nature (Hom Il 6 155-205 216-26)
Already in antiquity the name was interpreted as slayer of Belleros from the verb θείνω to slay that often appears
in the second part of compounds in the form -φόντης According to Kretschmer (Glotta 24 1936 pp 237-38 e 273
31 1951 pp 92 ff) this is an acceptable interpretation considering that Belleros is the name of a local demon On the
other hand Malten (Hermes 79 1944 pp 10 ff) views as a conjecture derived from popular imagination According
to Chantraine (DELG) supported also by Carnoy (DEMGR) Heubecks suggestion (Beitr Namenf 5 1954 pp 25-28)
that the name means full of strength being a compound of an Indo-European derivative bel- strength and ghwen
to swell up with cannot be proven
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΒῆλοςBELOSThe name of one of the two twin sons of the nymph Libya and Poseidon (the other was called Agenor) grandsons of
Epaphus (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4)
The name derives from the Semitic name of the god Baal Bel (Bernhard in Roscher Myth Lex I col 778)
Category Names of heroes
ΒιάνωρBIANORSon of the Tiber and the nymph Manto he founded the city of Mantua (Serv ad Verg Ecl 9 60)
This name is a compound of βιάω to tame to defeat and of ἀνήρ man and thus means he who forcefully tames
heroes Alternatively Pape- Benseler (WGE) translate it as a hard cruel violent man
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
17
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΒιήνωρBIENORTrojan captain with a Greek name called ποιmicroὴν λαῶν shepherd of people mentioned only once in Hom Il 11
92-93 when he was killed and stripped of his arms by Agamemnon together with his companion in arms and charioteer
Oileus
With the verbal sense of βια- it means ldquohe who with force dominates the enemy herordquo cf Bianor (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens I p 372-374) Elephenor Elpenor
Category Names of heroes
ΒορέαςBOREASGod of the North Wind the son of Eos and Astraeus brother of Zephyrus and Notus (Hes Theog 378)
One theory is that it means wind from the mountain related to Sanskrit giriacute- Avestan gairi- and ancient Slavic gora
mountain (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of gods
ΒῶροςBOROSBORUS1 Mentioned in Homer as the father of Phaestus Hom Il 5 44 he lived in Tarne Maeonia in the region of Smyrna
2 Another Borus in Homer (Il 16 177-178) son of Perieres was married to Polydora in Phthia Thessaly Polydora the
daughter of Peleus and Antigone 2 (Apollod Bibl 3 13 1) had a son Menesthius actually fathered by the river god
Spercheus (Il 16 173-176) 3 Son of Penthilus a descendant of Nestor grandson of Periclymenus had a son named
Andropompus who was the father of Melanthus who was expelled by the Hereclidae (Pausan 2 18 8)
The name probably is not Greek hence it is pointless to search for an explanation (as Pape-Benseler have done s v) by
resorting to the Hesychian gloss Βωροί ὀφθαλmicroοί eyes (Frisk GEW s v) Possibly related to the Βωρεῖς the name
of a tribe in Cyzicus (von Kamptz Homerische Personenn sect 81 pp 322)
Category Names of heroes
ΒουφάγοςBOUPHAGUSArcadian hero son of Iapetos and of Thornax killed by Artemis while chasing her on Mt Pholoe (Pausan 8 14 9 27 17)
18
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of βοῦς ldquooxrdquo and the aorist φαγεῖν of the verb ἐσθίω ldquoto eatrdquo it therefore means ldquoeater
of oxenrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ΒούτηςBOUTESBUTESName of various people including 1 A son of Boreas father of Hippodamia (Diod Sic 4 70) who tried to kill his
half-brother Licurgus and once discovered fled from Thessaly to Naxos where he became a pirate (Diod Sic 5 50)
2 Another was the son of the king of Athens Pandion and Zeuxippe (Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) brother of Procne and
Philomela founder of the hereditary priesthood of the Athenian Eteobutadai 3 A third son of Teleon participated
in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 4 912-19) He was the only one who threw himself into the sea
after he heard the song of the Sirens overwhelmed by the song of Orpheus He was saved by Aphrodite and afterwards
founded the colony of Lilybaeum near Eryx on Sicily
Derived from βούς cow and simply means cowherd
Category Names of heroes
ΒουζύγηςBOUZYGESA mythical character to whom the invention of the yoke is attributed (Serv ad Verg Georg 1 19 Hesych s v)
The name is a simple compound of βούς cow and the verb ζεύγνυmicroι to join and therefore means yoker of cows
Category Names of heroes
ΒράγχοςBRANCHUSSon of Smycrus a hero orginally from Delphi but who settled in Miletus before his birth his mother had a vision of the
sun descending into her mouth passing through her body and out of her vulva He was beloved by Apollo who gave
him the gift of prophecy (Conon Narr 33)
The name derives from the adjective βραγχός hoarse a technical term whose etymology is not clear one could
perhaps compare old Irish brong(a)ide hoarseness (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ΒρέmicroουσαBREMUSAAccording to a late poem (IV cent CE) she is one of the 12 Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy Quint
Smyrn Posthom 1 43 she is killed by Idomeneus with a stroke of his spear to her right breast
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The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
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(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
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ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
27
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
28
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
29
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
35
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
37
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It is derived from the adjective ἀγλαός illustrious shining and means she who displays radiance beauty
Category Names of gods
ἌγριοςAGRIOS1 A giant who was killed along with Thoas by the Moirai in the Gigantomachy when these two sons of Gaia fought
against the gods (Apollod Bibl 1 6 2) 2 Son of Portheus and brother of Oineus (king of Calydon in Aitolia grandfather
of Diomedes) and of Melas with whom he lived in Pleuron (Hom Il 14 116-118) He had six children including
Thersites who deposed Oineus in favor of their own father before departing for the Trojan War (Apollod Bibl 1 8 68)
According to Hyginus after the fall of the city Diomedes learned that his grandfather had been deposed and ousted
Agrios who committed suicide because of it (Hygin Fab 175 242 and Antonin Lib Metam 37 1) 3 Centaur that
Heracles drove off by throwing red-hot coals at him when he drawn by the smell of wine rushed to the wine-jar of
Pholos which had been opened during the heros fourth labor when he was passing through Arcadia (Apollod Bibl 2 5
4) 4 Brother of Oreios he was a Thracian giant born of Polyphonte and a bear he and his brother would haul strangers
off and devour them He was transformed by the gods into a vulture to punish him for his cruel bestiality (Antonin Lib
Metam 21) 5 Son of Circe and Odysseus brother of Latinos and of Telegonos (Hes Theog 1011-1014)
Derived directly from the adjective ἄγριος uncultivated or not domesticated even savage violent Von Kamptz
Homerische Personennamen sect 4 b 1 p 14 compares it to the compound Μελέαγρος not coincidentally his nephew
Since the countryside as an uncultivated area is normally fitting for activity connected to hunting one could easily
explain that the term ἄγριος could mean either ldquohe who nurtures the landrdquo (Chantraine DELG s v ἀγρός) or ldquohe
who hunts in an uncultivated areardquo
Category Names of heroes
ἌγρωνAGRONName of an inhabitant of the island of Cos who along with his sisters Byssa and Meropis worshiped only the Earth and
insulted the other gods who in revenge transformed him into a plover (Anton Lib Met 15 from Boios Ornithogonia)
It possibly derives from ἀγρός field land and means something like lover of fields man of the country
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Transformation
ΑἴαςAIAS (AJAX)Name of two Homeric heroes 1 the son of Oileus of Locris (Hom Il 13 46 23 754) 2 the son of Telamon king
of Salamis (Hom Il 2 553 7 183) he killed himself by falling on his sword cf Sophocles tragedy Aias which is
dedicated to him
Various theories have been proposed as to how to interpret this name 1) already in antiquity it was connected to
αἰετός eagle (Hes Fr 250 = Schol ad Pind Isth 6 53 Apollod Bibl 3 12 7) a complete invention 2) it could be
related to αἶα land (Chantraine DELG von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 168 Van der Valk in Snell Lex
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
fr Ep col 232) and would mean man of the earth or the descendant of Aia 3) already attested in Mycenaean ai-
wa (Kn Np 973) perhaps as a bovine name it could be interpreted as a hypocorism of Αἴολος alive from the Indo-
European aiu+unt- he who has dynamic strength vigorous (Muumlhlestein Studi Micenei 2 1967 pp 41-52 Carnoy
DEMGR and von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 368)
Category Names of heroes
ἈλέκτωρALEKTORName of different figures including 1) the son of Anaxagoras (Apollod Bibl 3 6 2) 2) the son of Epeios (Diod Sic
4 69) 3) the son of Argeios grandson of Pelops he is the father of Iphiloche or Echemela (Schol ad Hom Od 4 10)
whom Menelaos gave in matrimony to Megapenthes 4) the father of the Argonaut Leitos (Apollod Bibl 1 9 16)
Already attested in Mycenaean a-re-ko-to-re (KN Ce 1521) it is a nomen agentis in -τωρ from the verb ἀλέκω ldquoto
defend repelrdquo and thus means ldquothe defenderrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈλεκτρύωνALEKTRYONName of the sentry assigned by Ares to inform him about the approach of day while the god was occupied in his affair
with Aphrodite (Eustath ad Hom 1598 61) it is obviously an allusion to the cock-crow
It is attested in Mycenaean in the form A-re-ku-tu-ru-wo (PY An 6548) It means ldquoroosterrdquo and is formed from ἀλέκτωρ
ldquodefenderrdquo since it refers to a combative animal (Chantraine DELG s v ἀλέξω) Ruijgh (Minos 9 1968 p 153)
prefers to interpret it instead as a derivative of ἄλεκτρον a defensive implement
ἈλήτηςALETESSon of Hippotes descendant of Herakles born during the return of the Herakleidai (Pausan 2 4 4 5 18 8)
It means wanderer vagabond and is the nomen agentis of the verb ἀλάοmicroαι to wander (Chantraine DELG s v
ἀλάοmicroαι)
Category Names of heroes
ἈφροδίτηAPHRODITEGoddess of love (Hom Il 5 820 and passim Hymn Hom ad Ven Hes Theog 190 ff) born of the foam of the sea
and the genitals of Ouranos or according to another tradition of Zeus and Dione
She is a goddess of Near Eastern origin and later there arises a folk etymology that interprets the name as coming from
ἀφρός foam (Plat Crat 406 c) οὕνεκ ἐν ἀφρῷ θρέφθη (Hes Theog 197-198) The theory of Grimme (Glotta 14
1925 p 18) who proposes an association with the Semitic goddess of fertility Astoret has not been proven nor has
that of Hammarstroumlm (Glotta 11 1921 pp 214 ff) who compares this name with the pre-Indo-European πρύτανις
13
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Etruscan (e)pr ni this latter hypothesis is also maintained by Carnoy (DEMGR) but with the help of Pelasgian phonology
according to which p would become ph
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ἈθήνηATHENAA goddess daughter of Zeus and Metis born from the head of the god (Hes Theog 886 ss)
This name is already attested in Mycenaean in the form of a-ta-na-po-ti-ni-ja (KN V 521 52 bis) and is difficult to
explain Carnoy (DEMGR) supports the Pelasgic hypothesis of Van Windekens (Le Peacutelasgique pp 40-41) according to
whom the initial Ath- is a Pelasgic form of the Indo-European at-no Sanskrit atta mother with the change t gt th
but Athena does not have maternal characteristics in the historical period It is possible that it is a pre-Hellenic name
(cfr van der Valk in Snell Lex fr Ep col 208)
Category Names of gods
ΒαῖοςBAIOS or BAEUSHelmsman of Odysseus whose name was supposedly given to various places for instance a mountain on the island of
Cephalonia and the town of Baia in Campania (Strab 1 p 26 5 p 245 Lycophr Alex 694) The name only occurs in
the post-classical period and does not appear in the Homeric poems
The name apparently derives from βαιός short unimportant with the recessive accent often found with
anthroponyms
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΒαλίοςBALIOS or BALIUSOne of the two immortal horses of Achilles (Xanthus) son of Zephyrus and the Harpy Podarge who was given to Peleus
by Poseidon perhaps on the occasion of Peleusrsquo wedding to Thetis The third horse of Achilles team was Pedasus who
was killed in battle 2 The horse of Celmis (or Schelmis) beaten in a race by the mare of Erechtheus named Podarce
(Nonn Dionys 37 334-337) 3 One of the dogs of Actaeon in Apollod Bibl 33 4 4
With a recessive accent Baliacuteos is simply derived from βαλιός speckled spotted
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασίλειαBASILEIAEldest daughter of Uranus and Titaia who distinguished herself from her sisters through her wisdom and intelligence she
married her brother Hyperion and gave birth to Selene and Helios (Diod Sic 3 57 who reports a non-Greek tradition)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means queen ending in the suffix -y - Its origin is probably as a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v
βασιλεύς) from Mycenean qa-si-re-u
Category Names of gods
ΒασιλίσκοςBASILISKA serpent of small size no more than twelve inches long (about a handrsquos length) marked by a white spot on the head
is also distinguished from other snakes by traveling upright rather than slithering (erectus in medio incedens Plin
Nat Hist 8 33 78 Aelian Hist anim 2 5)One is tempted to identify it with the cobra Lucan (Bell Civ 724-26)
mentioned its death-bringing hiss including it in his comprehensive catalogue of snakes to which Dante alludes in the
Circle of Hell dedicated to thieves (Inf 24 85 ff) Not only its touch but its breath is destructive wherever it appears
(exurit herbas rumpit saxa) Its venom can pass through objects if it is true that one time as Pliny says a rider and
his horse were destroyed by poison traveling up the long spear used for killing the serpent cf also Aelian Nat anim 2
5 The power of its gaze is terrible anyone who meets it dies The only way to look upon it is ithrough the reflection of
a mirror just as Perseus had done with Medusa from whose blood all the reptiles of Libya arose (Lucan Bell Civ 696
ff) Alexander the Great during his campaign in India to defeat the horrible creature (cf Leo Neapol Hist de prelis
Alex Magni rec I 3 p 320 sec X) used the stratagem of putting mirrors on the shields of his soldiers The basiliskrsquos
mortal enemies are the weasel and the cock the first kills him with its own smell (Plin Nat hist 8 33 79) the
second protected travelers who passed through Libya (Aelian Nat anim 3 31) In Late Antique and Medieval bestiaries
its nature is linked to that of its enemy the cock it too can go on all fours or can assume plumage while keeping a
reptilian tail thus arose the basilgallo (basilicock in Chaucer) In the Middle Ages it had a negative connotation at
times relating it to the Devil (or Antichrist) to the sinner or heresy To St Antony of Padua (Sermoni) it represented
wrath Cecco dAscoli who was burned at the stake in 1327 on the charge of sorcery records that the basilisk is the
Lord of serpents (Acerba 30) The preconception has biblical roots Isaiah (59 5) mentions a poisonous reptile the
Hebrew tsepha that in the translation of the Septuagint became βασιλίσκος and in the Vulgate basiliscus It likewise
occurs in Jeremiah 8 17 and in Psalms 91 13 Modern translations more cautiously prefers asp viper serpent
The etymology is simple βασιλίσκος diminutive of βασιλεύς (a word already attested in Mycenaean qa-si-re-u)
means little king lat basiliscus and regulus designating the king of the serpents due to its terrible powers in
spite of its small size
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασσάραBASSARAName of a Thracian Bacchant (Athen 5 7 p 198)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means fox but also suggests the clothing of the Thracian bacchants which were made from fox pelts it
is a term derived from a loan word perhaps linked to the cult of Dionysus (Chantraine DELG s v) cf the verb ἀνα-
βασσαρέω Anacr fr 11 6 (356) PMG to revel Braccini T Glotta 86 2010 pp 7-21
ΒάτωνBATONA Theban the relative and charioteer of Amphiaraus He was swallowed up along with him into a chasm that opened
in the earth in front of Thebes (Pausan 2 23 2 5 17 8 10 10 3)
The name may come from βάτος bramble and may mean bramble or one who inhabits the bramble
Category Names of heroes
ΒάττοςBATTUSThe name of an old man transformed into a rock by Hermes because he did not keep secret the theft of Apollos cattle
(Anton Lib Met 23) A more widely known character with this name is the founder of Cyrene the son of Polymnestus
and Phronima (Herodot 4 145 ff Callim Hymn 2 65 Pausan 3 14 3 10 15 6-7)
The name belongs to the family of the verb βατταρίζω to stutter and means the stutterer they are onomatopoetic
terms According to Herodotus (4 145 ff) it could signify king in Libyan Masson (Glotta 54 1976 pp 84-98) favors
the first interpretation since the words of Herodotus are general and we lack information on South-Eastern Libyan
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΒαυβώBAUBOEleusinian wife of Dysaules received Demeter into her home and tried to cheer her up by lifting her dress and exposing
herself to Demeter (Clem Alex Protr 2 21)
The name is derived from the colloquial verb βαυβάω to sleep but also took on the meaning of female sex A less
acceptable suggestion of Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 73) is a derivation from βαΰζω to murmur or from
πραΰνω to soothe which according to him are applicable to a governess
Category Female names
ΒαῦκιςBAUCISA Phrygian woman who together with her husband Philemon welcomed Zeus and Hermes they sent a flood upon all
the other villagers who had not welcomed them but transformed these two into trees and their hut into a temple
(Ovid Met 8 616-715)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from βαυκός soft tender a folk word of uncertain etymology (Chantraine DELG) Room (Rooms
Classical Dictionary p 73) believes that it may have the same source as Baubo and in particular may be explained in
connection with πραΰνω to calm but such hypotheses are groundless
Category Female names
Theme Transformation
ΒελλεροφόντηςBELLEROPHONSon of Poseidon and the daughter of the king of Megara Iobates after he received a request from Proteus to kill the
hero commanded Bellerophon to slay the Chimera believing that this could not be done then sent him against the
Solymi the Amazons and Lydians until he recognized his divine nature (Hom Il 6 155-205 216-26)
Already in antiquity the name was interpreted as slayer of Belleros from the verb θείνω to slay that often appears
in the second part of compounds in the form -φόντης According to Kretschmer (Glotta 24 1936 pp 237-38 e 273
31 1951 pp 92 ff) this is an acceptable interpretation considering that Belleros is the name of a local demon On the
other hand Malten (Hermes 79 1944 pp 10 ff) views as a conjecture derived from popular imagination According
to Chantraine (DELG) supported also by Carnoy (DEMGR) Heubecks suggestion (Beitr Namenf 5 1954 pp 25-28)
that the name means full of strength being a compound of an Indo-European derivative bel- strength and ghwen
to swell up with cannot be proven
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΒῆλοςBELOSThe name of one of the two twin sons of the nymph Libya and Poseidon (the other was called Agenor) grandsons of
Epaphus (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4)
The name derives from the Semitic name of the god Baal Bel (Bernhard in Roscher Myth Lex I col 778)
Category Names of heroes
ΒιάνωρBIANORSon of the Tiber and the nymph Manto he founded the city of Mantua (Serv ad Verg Ecl 9 60)
This name is a compound of βιάω to tame to defeat and of ἀνήρ man and thus means he who forcefully tames
heroes Alternatively Pape- Benseler (WGE) translate it as a hard cruel violent man
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΒιήνωρBIENORTrojan captain with a Greek name called ποιmicroὴν λαῶν shepherd of people mentioned only once in Hom Il 11
92-93 when he was killed and stripped of his arms by Agamemnon together with his companion in arms and charioteer
Oileus
With the verbal sense of βια- it means ldquohe who with force dominates the enemy herordquo cf Bianor (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens I p 372-374) Elephenor Elpenor
Category Names of heroes
ΒορέαςBOREASGod of the North Wind the son of Eos and Astraeus brother of Zephyrus and Notus (Hes Theog 378)
One theory is that it means wind from the mountain related to Sanskrit giriacute- Avestan gairi- and ancient Slavic gora
mountain (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of gods
ΒῶροςBOROSBORUS1 Mentioned in Homer as the father of Phaestus Hom Il 5 44 he lived in Tarne Maeonia in the region of Smyrna
2 Another Borus in Homer (Il 16 177-178) son of Perieres was married to Polydora in Phthia Thessaly Polydora the
daughter of Peleus and Antigone 2 (Apollod Bibl 3 13 1) had a son Menesthius actually fathered by the river god
Spercheus (Il 16 173-176) 3 Son of Penthilus a descendant of Nestor grandson of Periclymenus had a son named
Andropompus who was the father of Melanthus who was expelled by the Hereclidae (Pausan 2 18 8)
The name probably is not Greek hence it is pointless to search for an explanation (as Pape-Benseler have done s v) by
resorting to the Hesychian gloss Βωροί ὀφθαλmicroοί eyes (Frisk GEW s v) Possibly related to the Βωρεῖς the name
of a tribe in Cyzicus (von Kamptz Homerische Personenn sect 81 pp 322)
Category Names of heroes
ΒουφάγοςBOUPHAGUSArcadian hero son of Iapetos and of Thornax killed by Artemis while chasing her on Mt Pholoe (Pausan 8 14 9 27 17)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of βοῦς ldquooxrdquo and the aorist φαγεῖν of the verb ἐσθίω ldquoto eatrdquo it therefore means ldquoeater
of oxenrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ΒούτηςBOUTESBUTESName of various people including 1 A son of Boreas father of Hippodamia (Diod Sic 4 70) who tried to kill his
half-brother Licurgus and once discovered fled from Thessaly to Naxos where he became a pirate (Diod Sic 5 50)
2 Another was the son of the king of Athens Pandion and Zeuxippe (Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) brother of Procne and
Philomela founder of the hereditary priesthood of the Athenian Eteobutadai 3 A third son of Teleon participated
in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 4 912-19) He was the only one who threw himself into the sea
after he heard the song of the Sirens overwhelmed by the song of Orpheus He was saved by Aphrodite and afterwards
founded the colony of Lilybaeum near Eryx on Sicily
Derived from βούς cow and simply means cowherd
Category Names of heroes
ΒουζύγηςBOUZYGESA mythical character to whom the invention of the yoke is attributed (Serv ad Verg Georg 1 19 Hesych s v)
The name is a simple compound of βούς cow and the verb ζεύγνυmicroι to join and therefore means yoker of cows
Category Names of heroes
ΒράγχοςBRANCHUSSon of Smycrus a hero orginally from Delphi but who settled in Miletus before his birth his mother had a vision of the
sun descending into her mouth passing through her body and out of her vulva He was beloved by Apollo who gave
him the gift of prophecy (Conon Narr 33)
The name derives from the adjective βραγχός hoarse a technical term whose etymology is not clear one could
perhaps compare old Irish brong(a)ide hoarseness (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ΒρέmicroουσαBREMUSAAccording to a late poem (IV cent CE) she is one of the 12 Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy Quint
Smyrn Posthom 1 43 she is killed by Idomeneus with a stroke of his spear to her right breast
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
20
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
21
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
22
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
23
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
24
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
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Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
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Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
37
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
38
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
fr Ep col 232) and would mean man of the earth or the descendant of Aia 3) already attested in Mycenaean ai-
wa (Kn Np 973) perhaps as a bovine name it could be interpreted as a hypocorism of Αἴολος alive from the Indo-
European aiu+unt- he who has dynamic strength vigorous (Muumlhlestein Studi Micenei 2 1967 pp 41-52 Carnoy
DEMGR and von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen p 368)
Category Names of heroes
ἈλέκτωρALEKTORName of different figures including 1) the son of Anaxagoras (Apollod Bibl 3 6 2) 2) the son of Epeios (Diod Sic
4 69) 3) the son of Argeios grandson of Pelops he is the father of Iphiloche or Echemela (Schol ad Hom Od 4 10)
whom Menelaos gave in matrimony to Megapenthes 4) the father of the Argonaut Leitos (Apollod Bibl 1 9 16)
Already attested in Mycenaean a-re-ko-to-re (KN Ce 1521) it is a nomen agentis in -τωρ from the verb ἀλέκω ldquoto
defend repelrdquo and thus means ldquothe defenderrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ἈλεκτρύωνALEKTRYONName of the sentry assigned by Ares to inform him about the approach of day while the god was occupied in his affair
with Aphrodite (Eustath ad Hom 1598 61) it is obviously an allusion to the cock-crow
It is attested in Mycenaean in the form A-re-ku-tu-ru-wo (PY An 6548) It means ldquoroosterrdquo and is formed from ἀλέκτωρ
ldquodefenderrdquo since it refers to a combative animal (Chantraine DELG s v ἀλέξω) Ruijgh (Minos 9 1968 p 153)
prefers to interpret it instead as a derivative of ἄλεκτρον a defensive implement
ἈλήτηςALETESSon of Hippotes descendant of Herakles born during the return of the Herakleidai (Pausan 2 4 4 5 18 8)
It means wanderer vagabond and is the nomen agentis of the verb ἀλάοmicroαι to wander (Chantraine DELG s v
ἀλάοmicroαι)
Category Names of heroes
ἈφροδίτηAPHRODITEGoddess of love (Hom Il 5 820 and passim Hymn Hom ad Ven Hes Theog 190 ff) born of the foam of the sea
and the genitals of Ouranos or according to another tradition of Zeus and Dione
She is a goddess of Near Eastern origin and later there arises a folk etymology that interprets the name as coming from
ἀφρός foam (Plat Crat 406 c) οὕνεκ ἐν ἀφρῷ θρέφθη (Hes Theog 197-198) The theory of Grimme (Glotta 14
1925 p 18) who proposes an association with the Semitic goddess of fertility Astoret has not been proven nor has
that of Hammarstroumlm (Glotta 11 1921 pp 214 ff) who compares this name with the pre-Indo-European πρύτανις
13
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Etruscan (e)pr ni this latter hypothesis is also maintained by Carnoy (DEMGR) but with the help of Pelasgian phonology
according to which p would become ph
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ἈθήνηATHENAA goddess daughter of Zeus and Metis born from the head of the god (Hes Theog 886 ss)
This name is already attested in Mycenaean in the form of a-ta-na-po-ti-ni-ja (KN V 521 52 bis) and is difficult to
explain Carnoy (DEMGR) supports the Pelasgic hypothesis of Van Windekens (Le Peacutelasgique pp 40-41) according to
whom the initial Ath- is a Pelasgic form of the Indo-European at-no Sanskrit atta mother with the change t gt th
but Athena does not have maternal characteristics in the historical period It is possible that it is a pre-Hellenic name
(cfr van der Valk in Snell Lex fr Ep col 208)
Category Names of gods
ΒαῖοςBAIOS or BAEUSHelmsman of Odysseus whose name was supposedly given to various places for instance a mountain on the island of
Cephalonia and the town of Baia in Campania (Strab 1 p 26 5 p 245 Lycophr Alex 694) The name only occurs in
the post-classical period and does not appear in the Homeric poems
The name apparently derives from βαιός short unimportant with the recessive accent often found with
anthroponyms
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΒαλίοςBALIOS or BALIUSOne of the two immortal horses of Achilles (Xanthus) son of Zephyrus and the Harpy Podarge who was given to Peleus
by Poseidon perhaps on the occasion of Peleusrsquo wedding to Thetis The third horse of Achilles team was Pedasus who
was killed in battle 2 The horse of Celmis (or Schelmis) beaten in a race by the mare of Erechtheus named Podarce
(Nonn Dionys 37 334-337) 3 One of the dogs of Actaeon in Apollod Bibl 33 4 4
With a recessive accent Baliacuteos is simply derived from βαλιός speckled spotted
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασίλειαBASILEIAEldest daughter of Uranus and Titaia who distinguished herself from her sisters through her wisdom and intelligence she
married her brother Hyperion and gave birth to Selene and Helios (Diod Sic 3 57 who reports a non-Greek tradition)
14
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means queen ending in the suffix -y - Its origin is probably as a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v
βασιλεύς) from Mycenean qa-si-re-u
Category Names of gods
ΒασιλίσκοςBASILISKA serpent of small size no more than twelve inches long (about a handrsquos length) marked by a white spot on the head
is also distinguished from other snakes by traveling upright rather than slithering (erectus in medio incedens Plin
Nat Hist 8 33 78 Aelian Hist anim 2 5)One is tempted to identify it with the cobra Lucan (Bell Civ 724-26)
mentioned its death-bringing hiss including it in his comprehensive catalogue of snakes to which Dante alludes in the
Circle of Hell dedicated to thieves (Inf 24 85 ff) Not only its touch but its breath is destructive wherever it appears
(exurit herbas rumpit saxa) Its venom can pass through objects if it is true that one time as Pliny says a rider and
his horse were destroyed by poison traveling up the long spear used for killing the serpent cf also Aelian Nat anim 2
5 The power of its gaze is terrible anyone who meets it dies The only way to look upon it is ithrough the reflection of
a mirror just as Perseus had done with Medusa from whose blood all the reptiles of Libya arose (Lucan Bell Civ 696
ff) Alexander the Great during his campaign in India to defeat the horrible creature (cf Leo Neapol Hist de prelis
Alex Magni rec I 3 p 320 sec X) used the stratagem of putting mirrors on the shields of his soldiers The basiliskrsquos
mortal enemies are the weasel and the cock the first kills him with its own smell (Plin Nat hist 8 33 79) the
second protected travelers who passed through Libya (Aelian Nat anim 3 31) In Late Antique and Medieval bestiaries
its nature is linked to that of its enemy the cock it too can go on all fours or can assume plumage while keeping a
reptilian tail thus arose the basilgallo (basilicock in Chaucer) In the Middle Ages it had a negative connotation at
times relating it to the Devil (or Antichrist) to the sinner or heresy To St Antony of Padua (Sermoni) it represented
wrath Cecco dAscoli who was burned at the stake in 1327 on the charge of sorcery records that the basilisk is the
Lord of serpents (Acerba 30) The preconception has biblical roots Isaiah (59 5) mentions a poisonous reptile the
Hebrew tsepha that in the translation of the Septuagint became βασιλίσκος and in the Vulgate basiliscus It likewise
occurs in Jeremiah 8 17 and in Psalms 91 13 Modern translations more cautiously prefers asp viper serpent
The etymology is simple βασιλίσκος diminutive of βασιλεύς (a word already attested in Mycenaean qa-si-re-u)
means little king lat basiliscus and regulus designating the king of the serpents due to its terrible powers in
spite of its small size
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασσάραBASSARAName of a Thracian Bacchant (Athen 5 7 p 198)
15
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means fox but also suggests the clothing of the Thracian bacchants which were made from fox pelts it
is a term derived from a loan word perhaps linked to the cult of Dionysus (Chantraine DELG s v) cf the verb ἀνα-
βασσαρέω Anacr fr 11 6 (356) PMG to revel Braccini T Glotta 86 2010 pp 7-21
ΒάτωνBATONA Theban the relative and charioteer of Amphiaraus He was swallowed up along with him into a chasm that opened
in the earth in front of Thebes (Pausan 2 23 2 5 17 8 10 10 3)
The name may come from βάτος bramble and may mean bramble or one who inhabits the bramble
Category Names of heroes
ΒάττοςBATTUSThe name of an old man transformed into a rock by Hermes because he did not keep secret the theft of Apollos cattle
(Anton Lib Met 23) A more widely known character with this name is the founder of Cyrene the son of Polymnestus
and Phronima (Herodot 4 145 ff Callim Hymn 2 65 Pausan 3 14 3 10 15 6-7)
The name belongs to the family of the verb βατταρίζω to stutter and means the stutterer they are onomatopoetic
terms According to Herodotus (4 145 ff) it could signify king in Libyan Masson (Glotta 54 1976 pp 84-98) favors
the first interpretation since the words of Herodotus are general and we lack information on South-Eastern Libyan
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΒαυβώBAUBOEleusinian wife of Dysaules received Demeter into her home and tried to cheer her up by lifting her dress and exposing
herself to Demeter (Clem Alex Protr 2 21)
The name is derived from the colloquial verb βαυβάω to sleep but also took on the meaning of female sex A less
acceptable suggestion of Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 73) is a derivation from βαΰζω to murmur or from
πραΰνω to soothe which according to him are applicable to a governess
Category Female names
ΒαῦκιςBAUCISA Phrygian woman who together with her husband Philemon welcomed Zeus and Hermes they sent a flood upon all
the other villagers who had not welcomed them but transformed these two into trees and their hut into a temple
(Ovid Met 8 616-715)
16
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from βαυκός soft tender a folk word of uncertain etymology (Chantraine DELG) Room (Rooms
Classical Dictionary p 73) believes that it may have the same source as Baubo and in particular may be explained in
connection with πραΰνω to calm but such hypotheses are groundless
Category Female names
Theme Transformation
ΒελλεροφόντηςBELLEROPHONSon of Poseidon and the daughter of the king of Megara Iobates after he received a request from Proteus to kill the
hero commanded Bellerophon to slay the Chimera believing that this could not be done then sent him against the
Solymi the Amazons and Lydians until he recognized his divine nature (Hom Il 6 155-205 216-26)
Already in antiquity the name was interpreted as slayer of Belleros from the verb θείνω to slay that often appears
in the second part of compounds in the form -φόντης According to Kretschmer (Glotta 24 1936 pp 237-38 e 273
31 1951 pp 92 ff) this is an acceptable interpretation considering that Belleros is the name of a local demon On the
other hand Malten (Hermes 79 1944 pp 10 ff) views as a conjecture derived from popular imagination According
to Chantraine (DELG) supported also by Carnoy (DEMGR) Heubecks suggestion (Beitr Namenf 5 1954 pp 25-28)
that the name means full of strength being a compound of an Indo-European derivative bel- strength and ghwen
to swell up with cannot be proven
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΒῆλοςBELOSThe name of one of the two twin sons of the nymph Libya and Poseidon (the other was called Agenor) grandsons of
Epaphus (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4)
The name derives from the Semitic name of the god Baal Bel (Bernhard in Roscher Myth Lex I col 778)
Category Names of heroes
ΒιάνωρBIANORSon of the Tiber and the nymph Manto he founded the city of Mantua (Serv ad Verg Ecl 9 60)
This name is a compound of βιάω to tame to defeat and of ἀνήρ man and thus means he who forcefully tames
heroes Alternatively Pape- Benseler (WGE) translate it as a hard cruel violent man
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
17
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΒιήνωρBIENORTrojan captain with a Greek name called ποιmicroὴν λαῶν shepherd of people mentioned only once in Hom Il 11
92-93 when he was killed and stripped of his arms by Agamemnon together with his companion in arms and charioteer
Oileus
With the verbal sense of βια- it means ldquohe who with force dominates the enemy herordquo cf Bianor (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens I p 372-374) Elephenor Elpenor
Category Names of heroes
ΒορέαςBOREASGod of the North Wind the son of Eos and Astraeus brother of Zephyrus and Notus (Hes Theog 378)
One theory is that it means wind from the mountain related to Sanskrit giriacute- Avestan gairi- and ancient Slavic gora
mountain (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of gods
ΒῶροςBOROSBORUS1 Mentioned in Homer as the father of Phaestus Hom Il 5 44 he lived in Tarne Maeonia in the region of Smyrna
2 Another Borus in Homer (Il 16 177-178) son of Perieres was married to Polydora in Phthia Thessaly Polydora the
daughter of Peleus and Antigone 2 (Apollod Bibl 3 13 1) had a son Menesthius actually fathered by the river god
Spercheus (Il 16 173-176) 3 Son of Penthilus a descendant of Nestor grandson of Periclymenus had a son named
Andropompus who was the father of Melanthus who was expelled by the Hereclidae (Pausan 2 18 8)
The name probably is not Greek hence it is pointless to search for an explanation (as Pape-Benseler have done s v) by
resorting to the Hesychian gloss Βωροί ὀφθαλmicroοί eyes (Frisk GEW s v) Possibly related to the Βωρεῖς the name
of a tribe in Cyzicus (von Kamptz Homerische Personenn sect 81 pp 322)
Category Names of heroes
ΒουφάγοςBOUPHAGUSArcadian hero son of Iapetos and of Thornax killed by Artemis while chasing her on Mt Pholoe (Pausan 8 14 9 27 17)
18
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of βοῦς ldquooxrdquo and the aorist φαγεῖν of the verb ἐσθίω ldquoto eatrdquo it therefore means ldquoeater
of oxenrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ΒούτηςBOUTESBUTESName of various people including 1 A son of Boreas father of Hippodamia (Diod Sic 4 70) who tried to kill his
half-brother Licurgus and once discovered fled from Thessaly to Naxos where he became a pirate (Diod Sic 5 50)
2 Another was the son of the king of Athens Pandion and Zeuxippe (Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) brother of Procne and
Philomela founder of the hereditary priesthood of the Athenian Eteobutadai 3 A third son of Teleon participated
in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 4 912-19) He was the only one who threw himself into the sea
after he heard the song of the Sirens overwhelmed by the song of Orpheus He was saved by Aphrodite and afterwards
founded the colony of Lilybaeum near Eryx on Sicily
Derived from βούς cow and simply means cowherd
Category Names of heroes
ΒουζύγηςBOUZYGESA mythical character to whom the invention of the yoke is attributed (Serv ad Verg Georg 1 19 Hesych s v)
The name is a simple compound of βούς cow and the verb ζεύγνυmicroι to join and therefore means yoker of cows
Category Names of heroes
ΒράγχοςBRANCHUSSon of Smycrus a hero orginally from Delphi but who settled in Miletus before his birth his mother had a vision of the
sun descending into her mouth passing through her body and out of her vulva He was beloved by Apollo who gave
him the gift of prophecy (Conon Narr 33)
The name derives from the adjective βραγχός hoarse a technical term whose etymology is not clear one could
perhaps compare old Irish brong(a)ide hoarseness (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ΒρέmicroουσαBREMUSAAccording to a late poem (IV cent CE) she is one of the 12 Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy Quint
Smyrn Posthom 1 43 she is killed by Idomeneus with a stroke of his spear to her right breast
19
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
20
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
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ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
37
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Etruscan (e)pr ni this latter hypothesis is also maintained by Carnoy (DEMGR) but with the help of Pelasgian phonology
according to which p would become ph
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ἈθήνηATHENAA goddess daughter of Zeus and Metis born from the head of the god (Hes Theog 886 ss)
This name is already attested in Mycenaean in the form of a-ta-na-po-ti-ni-ja (KN V 521 52 bis) and is difficult to
explain Carnoy (DEMGR) supports the Pelasgic hypothesis of Van Windekens (Le Peacutelasgique pp 40-41) according to
whom the initial Ath- is a Pelasgic form of the Indo-European at-no Sanskrit atta mother with the change t gt th
but Athena does not have maternal characteristics in the historical period It is possible that it is a pre-Hellenic name
(cfr van der Valk in Snell Lex fr Ep col 208)
Category Names of gods
ΒαῖοςBAIOS or BAEUSHelmsman of Odysseus whose name was supposedly given to various places for instance a mountain on the island of
Cephalonia and the town of Baia in Campania (Strab 1 p 26 5 p 245 Lycophr Alex 694) The name only occurs in
the post-classical period and does not appear in the Homeric poems
The name apparently derives from βαιός short unimportant with the recessive accent often found with
anthroponyms
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΒαλίοςBALIOS or BALIUSOne of the two immortal horses of Achilles (Xanthus) son of Zephyrus and the Harpy Podarge who was given to Peleus
by Poseidon perhaps on the occasion of Peleusrsquo wedding to Thetis The third horse of Achilles team was Pedasus who
was killed in battle 2 The horse of Celmis (or Schelmis) beaten in a race by the mare of Erechtheus named Podarce
(Nonn Dionys 37 334-337) 3 One of the dogs of Actaeon in Apollod Bibl 33 4 4
With a recessive accent Baliacuteos is simply derived from βαλιός speckled spotted
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασίλειαBASILEIAEldest daughter of Uranus and Titaia who distinguished herself from her sisters through her wisdom and intelligence she
married her brother Hyperion and gave birth to Selene and Helios (Diod Sic 3 57 who reports a non-Greek tradition)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means queen ending in the suffix -y - Its origin is probably as a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v
βασιλεύς) from Mycenean qa-si-re-u
Category Names of gods
ΒασιλίσκοςBASILISKA serpent of small size no more than twelve inches long (about a handrsquos length) marked by a white spot on the head
is also distinguished from other snakes by traveling upright rather than slithering (erectus in medio incedens Plin
Nat Hist 8 33 78 Aelian Hist anim 2 5)One is tempted to identify it with the cobra Lucan (Bell Civ 724-26)
mentioned its death-bringing hiss including it in his comprehensive catalogue of snakes to which Dante alludes in the
Circle of Hell dedicated to thieves (Inf 24 85 ff) Not only its touch but its breath is destructive wherever it appears
(exurit herbas rumpit saxa) Its venom can pass through objects if it is true that one time as Pliny says a rider and
his horse were destroyed by poison traveling up the long spear used for killing the serpent cf also Aelian Nat anim 2
5 The power of its gaze is terrible anyone who meets it dies The only way to look upon it is ithrough the reflection of
a mirror just as Perseus had done with Medusa from whose blood all the reptiles of Libya arose (Lucan Bell Civ 696
ff) Alexander the Great during his campaign in India to defeat the horrible creature (cf Leo Neapol Hist de prelis
Alex Magni rec I 3 p 320 sec X) used the stratagem of putting mirrors on the shields of his soldiers The basiliskrsquos
mortal enemies are the weasel and the cock the first kills him with its own smell (Plin Nat hist 8 33 79) the
second protected travelers who passed through Libya (Aelian Nat anim 3 31) In Late Antique and Medieval bestiaries
its nature is linked to that of its enemy the cock it too can go on all fours or can assume plumage while keeping a
reptilian tail thus arose the basilgallo (basilicock in Chaucer) In the Middle Ages it had a negative connotation at
times relating it to the Devil (or Antichrist) to the sinner or heresy To St Antony of Padua (Sermoni) it represented
wrath Cecco dAscoli who was burned at the stake in 1327 on the charge of sorcery records that the basilisk is the
Lord of serpents (Acerba 30) The preconception has biblical roots Isaiah (59 5) mentions a poisonous reptile the
Hebrew tsepha that in the translation of the Septuagint became βασιλίσκος and in the Vulgate basiliscus It likewise
occurs in Jeremiah 8 17 and in Psalms 91 13 Modern translations more cautiously prefers asp viper serpent
The etymology is simple βασιλίσκος diminutive of βασιλεύς (a word already attested in Mycenaean qa-si-re-u)
means little king lat basiliscus and regulus designating the king of the serpents due to its terrible powers in
spite of its small size
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασσάραBASSARAName of a Thracian Bacchant (Athen 5 7 p 198)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name means fox but also suggests the clothing of the Thracian bacchants which were made from fox pelts it
is a term derived from a loan word perhaps linked to the cult of Dionysus (Chantraine DELG s v) cf the verb ἀνα-
βασσαρέω Anacr fr 11 6 (356) PMG to revel Braccini T Glotta 86 2010 pp 7-21
ΒάτωνBATONA Theban the relative and charioteer of Amphiaraus He was swallowed up along with him into a chasm that opened
in the earth in front of Thebes (Pausan 2 23 2 5 17 8 10 10 3)
The name may come from βάτος bramble and may mean bramble or one who inhabits the bramble
Category Names of heroes
ΒάττοςBATTUSThe name of an old man transformed into a rock by Hermes because he did not keep secret the theft of Apollos cattle
(Anton Lib Met 23) A more widely known character with this name is the founder of Cyrene the son of Polymnestus
and Phronima (Herodot 4 145 ff Callim Hymn 2 65 Pausan 3 14 3 10 15 6-7)
The name belongs to the family of the verb βατταρίζω to stutter and means the stutterer they are onomatopoetic
terms According to Herodotus (4 145 ff) it could signify king in Libyan Masson (Glotta 54 1976 pp 84-98) favors
the first interpretation since the words of Herodotus are general and we lack information on South-Eastern Libyan
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΒαυβώBAUBOEleusinian wife of Dysaules received Demeter into her home and tried to cheer her up by lifting her dress and exposing
herself to Demeter (Clem Alex Protr 2 21)
The name is derived from the colloquial verb βαυβάω to sleep but also took on the meaning of female sex A less
acceptable suggestion of Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 73) is a derivation from βαΰζω to murmur or from
πραΰνω to soothe which according to him are applicable to a governess
Category Female names
ΒαῦκιςBAUCISA Phrygian woman who together with her husband Philemon welcomed Zeus and Hermes they sent a flood upon all
the other villagers who had not welcomed them but transformed these two into trees and their hut into a temple
(Ovid Met 8 616-715)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from βαυκός soft tender a folk word of uncertain etymology (Chantraine DELG) Room (Rooms
Classical Dictionary p 73) believes that it may have the same source as Baubo and in particular may be explained in
connection with πραΰνω to calm but such hypotheses are groundless
Category Female names
Theme Transformation
ΒελλεροφόντηςBELLEROPHONSon of Poseidon and the daughter of the king of Megara Iobates after he received a request from Proteus to kill the
hero commanded Bellerophon to slay the Chimera believing that this could not be done then sent him against the
Solymi the Amazons and Lydians until he recognized his divine nature (Hom Il 6 155-205 216-26)
Already in antiquity the name was interpreted as slayer of Belleros from the verb θείνω to slay that often appears
in the second part of compounds in the form -φόντης According to Kretschmer (Glotta 24 1936 pp 237-38 e 273
31 1951 pp 92 ff) this is an acceptable interpretation considering that Belleros is the name of a local demon On the
other hand Malten (Hermes 79 1944 pp 10 ff) views as a conjecture derived from popular imagination According
to Chantraine (DELG) supported also by Carnoy (DEMGR) Heubecks suggestion (Beitr Namenf 5 1954 pp 25-28)
that the name means full of strength being a compound of an Indo-European derivative bel- strength and ghwen
to swell up with cannot be proven
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΒῆλοςBELOSThe name of one of the two twin sons of the nymph Libya and Poseidon (the other was called Agenor) grandsons of
Epaphus (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4)
The name derives from the Semitic name of the god Baal Bel (Bernhard in Roscher Myth Lex I col 778)
Category Names of heroes
ΒιάνωρBIANORSon of the Tiber and the nymph Manto he founded the city of Mantua (Serv ad Verg Ecl 9 60)
This name is a compound of βιάω to tame to defeat and of ἀνήρ man and thus means he who forcefully tames
heroes Alternatively Pape- Benseler (WGE) translate it as a hard cruel violent man
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΒιήνωρBIENORTrojan captain with a Greek name called ποιmicroὴν λαῶν shepherd of people mentioned only once in Hom Il 11
92-93 when he was killed and stripped of his arms by Agamemnon together with his companion in arms and charioteer
Oileus
With the verbal sense of βια- it means ldquohe who with force dominates the enemy herordquo cf Bianor (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens I p 372-374) Elephenor Elpenor
Category Names of heroes
ΒορέαςBOREASGod of the North Wind the son of Eos and Astraeus brother of Zephyrus and Notus (Hes Theog 378)
One theory is that it means wind from the mountain related to Sanskrit giriacute- Avestan gairi- and ancient Slavic gora
mountain (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of gods
ΒῶροςBOROSBORUS1 Mentioned in Homer as the father of Phaestus Hom Il 5 44 he lived in Tarne Maeonia in the region of Smyrna
2 Another Borus in Homer (Il 16 177-178) son of Perieres was married to Polydora in Phthia Thessaly Polydora the
daughter of Peleus and Antigone 2 (Apollod Bibl 3 13 1) had a son Menesthius actually fathered by the river god
Spercheus (Il 16 173-176) 3 Son of Penthilus a descendant of Nestor grandson of Periclymenus had a son named
Andropompus who was the father of Melanthus who was expelled by the Hereclidae (Pausan 2 18 8)
The name probably is not Greek hence it is pointless to search for an explanation (as Pape-Benseler have done s v) by
resorting to the Hesychian gloss Βωροί ὀφθαλmicroοί eyes (Frisk GEW s v) Possibly related to the Βωρεῖς the name
of a tribe in Cyzicus (von Kamptz Homerische Personenn sect 81 pp 322)
Category Names of heroes
ΒουφάγοςBOUPHAGUSArcadian hero son of Iapetos and of Thornax killed by Artemis while chasing her on Mt Pholoe (Pausan 8 14 9 27 17)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of βοῦς ldquooxrdquo and the aorist φαγεῖν of the verb ἐσθίω ldquoto eatrdquo it therefore means ldquoeater
of oxenrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ΒούτηςBOUTESBUTESName of various people including 1 A son of Boreas father of Hippodamia (Diod Sic 4 70) who tried to kill his
half-brother Licurgus and once discovered fled from Thessaly to Naxos where he became a pirate (Diod Sic 5 50)
2 Another was the son of the king of Athens Pandion and Zeuxippe (Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) brother of Procne and
Philomela founder of the hereditary priesthood of the Athenian Eteobutadai 3 A third son of Teleon participated
in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 4 912-19) He was the only one who threw himself into the sea
after he heard the song of the Sirens overwhelmed by the song of Orpheus He was saved by Aphrodite and afterwards
founded the colony of Lilybaeum near Eryx on Sicily
Derived from βούς cow and simply means cowherd
Category Names of heroes
ΒουζύγηςBOUZYGESA mythical character to whom the invention of the yoke is attributed (Serv ad Verg Georg 1 19 Hesych s v)
The name is a simple compound of βούς cow and the verb ζεύγνυmicroι to join and therefore means yoker of cows
Category Names of heroes
ΒράγχοςBRANCHUSSon of Smycrus a hero orginally from Delphi but who settled in Miletus before his birth his mother had a vision of the
sun descending into her mouth passing through her body and out of her vulva He was beloved by Apollo who gave
him the gift of prophecy (Conon Narr 33)
The name derives from the adjective βραγχός hoarse a technical term whose etymology is not clear one could
perhaps compare old Irish brong(a)ide hoarseness (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ΒρέmicroουσαBREMUSAAccording to a late poem (IV cent CE) she is one of the 12 Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy Quint
Smyrn Posthom 1 43 she is killed by Idomeneus with a stroke of his spear to her right breast
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
20
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
22
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
23
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
24
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
25
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
26
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
27
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
28
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
29
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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The name means queen ending in the suffix -y - Its origin is probably as a loan word (Chantraine DELG s v
βασιλεύς) from Mycenean qa-si-re-u
Category Names of gods
ΒασιλίσκοςBASILISKA serpent of small size no more than twelve inches long (about a handrsquos length) marked by a white spot on the head
is also distinguished from other snakes by traveling upright rather than slithering (erectus in medio incedens Plin
Nat Hist 8 33 78 Aelian Hist anim 2 5)One is tempted to identify it with the cobra Lucan (Bell Civ 724-26)
mentioned its death-bringing hiss including it in his comprehensive catalogue of snakes to which Dante alludes in the
Circle of Hell dedicated to thieves (Inf 24 85 ff) Not only its touch but its breath is destructive wherever it appears
(exurit herbas rumpit saxa) Its venom can pass through objects if it is true that one time as Pliny says a rider and
his horse were destroyed by poison traveling up the long spear used for killing the serpent cf also Aelian Nat anim 2
5 The power of its gaze is terrible anyone who meets it dies The only way to look upon it is ithrough the reflection of
a mirror just as Perseus had done with Medusa from whose blood all the reptiles of Libya arose (Lucan Bell Civ 696
ff) Alexander the Great during his campaign in India to defeat the horrible creature (cf Leo Neapol Hist de prelis
Alex Magni rec I 3 p 320 sec X) used the stratagem of putting mirrors on the shields of his soldiers The basiliskrsquos
mortal enemies are the weasel and the cock the first kills him with its own smell (Plin Nat hist 8 33 79) the
second protected travelers who passed through Libya (Aelian Nat anim 3 31) In Late Antique and Medieval bestiaries
its nature is linked to that of its enemy the cock it too can go on all fours or can assume plumage while keeping a
reptilian tail thus arose the basilgallo (basilicock in Chaucer) In the Middle Ages it had a negative connotation at
times relating it to the Devil (or Antichrist) to the sinner or heresy To St Antony of Padua (Sermoni) it represented
wrath Cecco dAscoli who was burned at the stake in 1327 on the charge of sorcery records that the basilisk is the
Lord of serpents (Acerba 30) The preconception has biblical roots Isaiah (59 5) mentions a poisonous reptile the
Hebrew tsepha that in the translation of the Septuagint became βασιλίσκος and in the Vulgate basiliscus It likewise
occurs in Jeremiah 8 17 and in Psalms 91 13 Modern translations more cautiously prefers asp viper serpent
The etymology is simple βασιλίσκος diminutive of βασιλεύς (a word already attested in Mycenaean qa-si-re-u)
means little king lat basiliscus and regulus designating the king of the serpents due to its terrible powers in
spite of its small size
Category Kinds of animals
ΒασσάραBASSARAName of a Thracian Bacchant (Athen 5 7 p 198)
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The name means fox but also suggests the clothing of the Thracian bacchants which were made from fox pelts it
is a term derived from a loan word perhaps linked to the cult of Dionysus (Chantraine DELG s v) cf the verb ἀνα-
βασσαρέω Anacr fr 11 6 (356) PMG to revel Braccini T Glotta 86 2010 pp 7-21
ΒάτωνBATONA Theban the relative and charioteer of Amphiaraus He was swallowed up along with him into a chasm that opened
in the earth in front of Thebes (Pausan 2 23 2 5 17 8 10 10 3)
The name may come from βάτος bramble and may mean bramble or one who inhabits the bramble
Category Names of heroes
ΒάττοςBATTUSThe name of an old man transformed into a rock by Hermes because he did not keep secret the theft of Apollos cattle
(Anton Lib Met 23) A more widely known character with this name is the founder of Cyrene the son of Polymnestus
and Phronima (Herodot 4 145 ff Callim Hymn 2 65 Pausan 3 14 3 10 15 6-7)
The name belongs to the family of the verb βατταρίζω to stutter and means the stutterer they are onomatopoetic
terms According to Herodotus (4 145 ff) it could signify king in Libyan Masson (Glotta 54 1976 pp 84-98) favors
the first interpretation since the words of Herodotus are general and we lack information on South-Eastern Libyan
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΒαυβώBAUBOEleusinian wife of Dysaules received Demeter into her home and tried to cheer her up by lifting her dress and exposing
herself to Demeter (Clem Alex Protr 2 21)
The name is derived from the colloquial verb βαυβάω to sleep but also took on the meaning of female sex A less
acceptable suggestion of Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 73) is a derivation from βαΰζω to murmur or from
πραΰνω to soothe which according to him are applicable to a governess
Category Female names
ΒαῦκιςBAUCISA Phrygian woman who together with her husband Philemon welcomed Zeus and Hermes they sent a flood upon all
the other villagers who had not welcomed them but transformed these two into trees and their hut into a temple
(Ovid Met 8 616-715)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from βαυκός soft tender a folk word of uncertain etymology (Chantraine DELG) Room (Rooms
Classical Dictionary p 73) believes that it may have the same source as Baubo and in particular may be explained in
connection with πραΰνω to calm but such hypotheses are groundless
Category Female names
Theme Transformation
ΒελλεροφόντηςBELLEROPHONSon of Poseidon and the daughter of the king of Megara Iobates after he received a request from Proteus to kill the
hero commanded Bellerophon to slay the Chimera believing that this could not be done then sent him against the
Solymi the Amazons and Lydians until he recognized his divine nature (Hom Il 6 155-205 216-26)
Already in antiquity the name was interpreted as slayer of Belleros from the verb θείνω to slay that often appears
in the second part of compounds in the form -φόντης According to Kretschmer (Glotta 24 1936 pp 237-38 e 273
31 1951 pp 92 ff) this is an acceptable interpretation considering that Belleros is the name of a local demon On the
other hand Malten (Hermes 79 1944 pp 10 ff) views as a conjecture derived from popular imagination According
to Chantraine (DELG) supported also by Carnoy (DEMGR) Heubecks suggestion (Beitr Namenf 5 1954 pp 25-28)
that the name means full of strength being a compound of an Indo-European derivative bel- strength and ghwen
to swell up with cannot be proven
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΒῆλοςBELOSThe name of one of the two twin sons of the nymph Libya and Poseidon (the other was called Agenor) grandsons of
Epaphus (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4)
The name derives from the Semitic name of the god Baal Bel (Bernhard in Roscher Myth Lex I col 778)
Category Names of heroes
ΒιάνωρBIANORSon of the Tiber and the nymph Manto he founded the city of Mantua (Serv ad Verg Ecl 9 60)
This name is a compound of βιάω to tame to defeat and of ἀνήρ man and thus means he who forcefully tames
heroes Alternatively Pape- Benseler (WGE) translate it as a hard cruel violent man
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΒιήνωρBIENORTrojan captain with a Greek name called ποιmicroὴν λαῶν shepherd of people mentioned only once in Hom Il 11
92-93 when he was killed and stripped of his arms by Agamemnon together with his companion in arms and charioteer
Oileus
With the verbal sense of βια- it means ldquohe who with force dominates the enemy herordquo cf Bianor (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens I p 372-374) Elephenor Elpenor
Category Names of heroes
ΒορέαςBOREASGod of the North Wind the son of Eos and Astraeus brother of Zephyrus and Notus (Hes Theog 378)
One theory is that it means wind from the mountain related to Sanskrit giriacute- Avestan gairi- and ancient Slavic gora
mountain (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of gods
ΒῶροςBOROSBORUS1 Mentioned in Homer as the father of Phaestus Hom Il 5 44 he lived in Tarne Maeonia in the region of Smyrna
2 Another Borus in Homer (Il 16 177-178) son of Perieres was married to Polydora in Phthia Thessaly Polydora the
daughter of Peleus and Antigone 2 (Apollod Bibl 3 13 1) had a son Menesthius actually fathered by the river god
Spercheus (Il 16 173-176) 3 Son of Penthilus a descendant of Nestor grandson of Periclymenus had a son named
Andropompus who was the father of Melanthus who was expelled by the Hereclidae (Pausan 2 18 8)
The name probably is not Greek hence it is pointless to search for an explanation (as Pape-Benseler have done s v) by
resorting to the Hesychian gloss Βωροί ὀφθαλmicroοί eyes (Frisk GEW s v) Possibly related to the Βωρεῖς the name
of a tribe in Cyzicus (von Kamptz Homerische Personenn sect 81 pp 322)
Category Names of heroes
ΒουφάγοςBOUPHAGUSArcadian hero son of Iapetos and of Thornax killed by Artemis while chasing her on Mt Pholoe (Pausan 8 14 9 27 17)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of βοῦς ldquooxrdquo and the aorist φαγεῖν of the verb ἐσθίω ldquoto eatrdquo it therefore means ldquoeater
of oxenrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ΒούτηςBOUTESBUTESName of various people including 1 A son of Boreas father of Hippodamia (Diod Sic 4 70) who tried to kill his
half-brother Licurgus and once discovered fled from Thessaly to Naxos where he became a pirate (Diod Sic 5 50)
2 Another was the son of the king of Athens Pandion and Zeuxippe (Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) brother of Procne and
Philomela founder of the hereditary priesthood of the Athenian Eteobutadai 3 A third son of Teleon participated
in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 4 912-19) He was the only one who threw himself into the sea
after he heard the song of the Sirens overwhelmed by the song of Orpheus He was saved by Aphrodite and afterwards
founded the colony of Lilybaeum near Eryx on Sicily
Derived from βούς cow and simply means cowherd
Category Names of heroes
ΒουζύγηςBOUZYGESA mythical character to whom the invention of the yoke is attributed (Serv ad Verg Georg 1 19 Hesych s v)
The name is a simple compound of βούς cow and the verb ζεύγνυmicroι to join and therefore means yoker of cows
Category Names of heroes
ΒράγχοςBRANCHUSSon of Smycrus a hero orginally from Delphi but who settled in Miletus before his birth his mother had a vision of the
sun descending into her mouth passing through her body and out of her vulva He was beloved by Apollo who gave
him the gift of prophecy (Conon Narr 33)
The name derives from the adjective βραγχός hoarse a technical term whose etymology is not clear one could
perhaps compare old Irish brong(a)ide hoarseness (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ΒρέmicroουσαBREMUSAAccording to a late poem (IV cent CE) she is one of the 12 Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy Quint
Smyrn Posthom 1 43 she is killed by Idomeneus with a stroke of his spear to her right breast
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
20
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
21
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
22
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
23
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
24
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
25
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
26
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
27
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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The name means fox but also suggests the clothing of the Thracian bacchants which were made from fox pelts it
is a term derived from a loan word perhaps linked to the cult of Dionysus (Chantraine DELG s v) cf the verb ἀνα-
βασσαρέω Anacr fr 11 6 (356) PMG to revel Braccini T Glotta 86 2010 pp 7-21
ΒάτωνBATONA Theban the relative and charioteer of Amphiaraus He was swallowed up along with him into a chasm that opened
in the earth in front of Thebes (Pausan 2 23 2 5 17 8 10 10 3)
The name may come from βάτος bramble and may mean bramble or one who inhabits the bramble
Category Names of heroes
ΒάττοςBATTUSThe name of an old man transformed into a rock by Hermes because he did not keep secret the theft of Apollos cattle
(Anton Lib Met 23) A more widely known character with this name is the founder of Cyrene the son of Polymnestus
and Phronima (Herodot 4 145 ff Callim Hymn 2 65 Pausan 3 14 3 10 15 6-7)
The name belongs to the family of the verb βατταρίζω to stutter and means the stutterer they are onomatopoetic
terms According to Herodotus (4 145 ff) it could signify king in Libyan Masson (Glotta 54 1976 pp 84-98) favors
the first interpretation since the words of Herodotus are general and we lack information on South-Eastern Libyan
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΒαυβώBAUBOEleusinian wife of Dysaules received Demeter into her home and tried to cheer her up by lifting her dress and exposing
herself to Demeter (Clem Alex Protr 2 21)
The name is derived from the colloquial verb βαυβάω to sleep but also took on the meaning of female sex A less
acceptable suggestion of Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary p 73) is a derivation from βαΰζω to murmur or from
πραΰνω to soothe which according to him are applicable to a governess
Category Female names
ΒαῦκιςBAUCISA Phrygian woman who together with her husband Philemon welcomed Zeus and Hermes they sent a flood upon all
the other villagers who had not welcomed them but transformed these two into trees and their hut into a temple
(Ovid Met 8 616-715)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from βαυκός soft tender a folk word of uncertain etymology (Chantraine DELG) Room (Rooms
Classical Dictionary p 73) believes that it may have the same source as Baubo and in particular may be explained in
connection with πραΰνω to calm but such hypotheses are groundless
Category Female names
Theme Transformation
ΒελλεροφόντηςBELLEROPHONSon of Poseidon and the daughter of the king of Megara Iobates after he received a request from Proteus to kill the
hero commanded Bellerophon to slay the Chimera believing that this could not be done then sent him against the
Solymi the Amazons and Lydians until he recognized his divine nature (Hom Il 6 155-205 216-26)
Already in antiquity the name was interpreted as slayer of Belleros from the verb θείνω to slay that often appears
in the second part of compounds in the form -φόντης According to Kretschmer (Glotta 24 1936 pp 237-38 e 273
31 1951 pp 92 ff) this is an acceptable interpretation considering that Belleros is the name of a local demon On the
other hand Malten (Hermes 79 1944 pp 10 ff) views as a conjecture derived from popular imagination According
to Chantraine (DELG) supported also by Carnoy (DEMGR) Heubecks suggestion (Beitr Namenf 5 1954 pp 25-28)
that the name means full of strength being a compound of an Indo-European derivative bel- strength and ghwen
to swell up with cannot be proven
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΒῆλοςBELOSThe name of one of the two twin sons of the nymph Libya and Poseidon (the other was called Agenor) grandsons of
Epaphus (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4)
The name derives from the Semitic name of the god Baal Bel (Bernhard in Roscher Myth Lex I col 778)
Category Names of heroes
ΒιάνωρBIANORSon of the Tiber and the nymph Manto he founded the city of Mantua (Serv ad Verg Ecl 9 60)
This name is a compound of βιάω to tame to defeat and of ἀνήρ man and thus means he who forcefully tames
heroes Alternatively Pape- Benseler (WGE) translate it as a hard cruel violent man
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΒιήνωρBIENORTrojan captain with a Greek name called ποιmicroὴν λαῶν shepherd of people mentioned only once in Hom Il 11
92-93 when he was killed and stripped of his arms by Agamemnon together with his companion in arms and charioteer
Oileus
With the verbal sense of βια- it means ldquohe who with force dominates the enemy herordquo cf Bianor (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens I p 372-374) Elephenor Elpenor
Category Names of heroes
ΒορέαςBOREASGod of the North Wind the son of Eos and Astraeus brother of Zephyrus and Notus (Hes Theog 378)
One theory is that it means wind from the mountain related to Sanskrit giriacute- Avestan gairi- and ancient Slavic gora
mountain (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of gods
ΒῶροςBOROSBORUS1 Mentioned in Homer as the father of Phaestus Hom Il 5 44 he lived in Tarne Maeonia in the region of Smyrna
2 Another Borus in Homer (Il 16 177-178) son of Perieres was married to Polydora in Phthia Thessaly Polydora the
daughter of Peleus and Antigone 2 (Apollod Bibl 3 13 1) had a son Menesthius actually fathered by the river god
Spercheus (Il 16 173-176) 3 Son of Penthilus a descendant of Nestor grandson of Periclymenus had a son named
Andropompus who was the father of Melanthus who was expelled by the Hereclidae (Pausan 2 18 8)
The name probably is not Greek hence it is pointless to search for an explanation (as Pape-Benseler have done s v) by
resorting to the Hesychian gloss Βωροί ὀφθαλmicroοί eyes (Frisk GEW s v) Possibly related to the Βωρεῖς the name
of a tribe in Cyzicus (von Kamptz Homerische Personenn sect 81 pp 322)
Category Names of heroes
ΒουφάγοςBOUPHAGUSArcadian hero son of Iapetos and of Thornax killed by Artemis while chasing her on Mt Pholoe (Pausan 8 14 9 27 17)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of βοῦς ldquooxrdquo and the aorist φαγεῖν of the verb ἐσθίω ldquoto eatrdquo it therefore means ldquoeater
of oxenrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ΒούτηςBOUTESBUTESName of various people including 1 A son of Boreas father of Hippodamia (Diod Sic 4 70) who tried to kill his
half-brother Licurgus and once discovered fled from Thessaly to Naxos where he became a pirate (Diod Sic 5 50)
2 Another was the son of the king of Athens Pandion and Zeuxippe (Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) brother of Procne and
Philomela founder of the hereditary priesthood of the Athenian Eteobutadai 3 A third son of Teleon participated
in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 4 912-19) He was the only one who threw himself into the sea
after he heard the song of the Sirens overwhelmed by the song of Orpheus He was saved by Aphrodite and afterwards
founded the colony of Lilybaeum near Eryx on Sicily
Derived from βούς cow and simply means cowherd
Category Names of heroes
ΒουζύγηςBOUZYGESA mythical character to whom the invention of the yoke is attributed (Serv ad Verg Georg 1 19 Hesych s v)
The name is a simple compound of βούς cow and the verb ζεύγνυmicroι to join and therefore means yoker of cows
Category Names of heroes
ΒράγχοςBRANCHUSSon of Smycrus a hero orginally from Delphi but who settled in Miletus before his birth his mother had a vision of the
sun descending into her mouth passing through her body and out of her vulva He was beloved by Apollo who gave
him the gift of prophecy (Conon Narr 33)
The name derives from the adjective βραγχός hoarse a technical term whose etymology is not clear one could
perhaps compare old Irish brong(a)ide hoarseness (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ΒρέmicroουσαBREMUSAAccording to a late poem (IV cent CE) she is one of the 12 Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy Quint
Smyrn Posthom 1 43 she is killed by Idomeneus with a stroke of his spear to her right breast
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
20
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
21
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
22
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
23
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
24
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
25
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
26
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from βαυκός soft tender a folk word of uncertain etymology (Chantraine DELG) Room (Rooms
Classical Dictionary p 73) believes that it may have the same source as Baubo and in particular may be explained in
connection with πραΰνω to calm but such hypotheses are groundless
Category Female names
Theme Transformation
ΒελλεροφόντηςBELLEROPHONSon of Poseidon and the daughter of the king of Megara Iobates after he received a request from Proteus to kill the
hero commanded Bellerophon to slay the Chimera believing that this could not be done then sent him against the
Solymi the Amazons and Lydians until he recognized his divine nature (Hom Il 6 155-205 216-26)
Already in antiquity the name was interpreted as slayer of Belleros from the verb θείνω to slay that often appears
in the second part of compounds in the form -φόντης According to Kretschmer (Glotta 24 1936 pp 237-38 e 273
31 1951 pp 92 ff) this is an acceptable interpretation considering that Belleros is the name of a local demon On the
other hand Malten (Hermes 79 1944 pp 10 ff) views as a conjecture derived from popular imagination According
to Chantraine (DELG) supported also by Carnoy (DEMGR) Heubecks suggestion (Beitr Namenf 5 1954 pp 25-28)
that the name means full of strength being a compound of an Indo-European derivative bel- strength and ghwen
to swell up with cannot be proven
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΒῆλοςBELOSThe name of one of the two twin sons of the nymph Libya and Poseidon (the other was called Agenor) grandsons of
Epaphus (Apollod Bibl 2 1 4)
The name derives from the Semitic name of the god Baal Bel (Bernhard in Roscher Myth Lex I col 778)
Category Names of heroes
ΒιάνωρBIANORSon of the Tiber and the nymph Manto he founded the city of Mantua (Serv ad Verg Ecl 9 60)
This name is a compound of βιάω to tame to defeat and of ἀνήρ man and thus means he who forcefully tames
heroes Alternatively Pape- Benseler (WGE) translate it as a hard cruel violent man
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΒιήνωρBIENORTrojan captain with a Greek name called ποιmicroὴν λαῶν shepherd of people mentioned only once in Hom Il 11
92-93 when he was killed and stripped of his arms by Agamemnon together with his companion in arms and charioteer
Oileus
With the verbal sense of βια- it means ldquohe who with force dominates the enemy herordquo cf Bianor (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens I p 372-374) Elephenor Elpenor
Category Names of heroes
ΒορέαςBOREASGod of the North Wind the son of Eos and Astraeus brother of Zephyrus and Notus (Hes Theog 378)
One theory is that it means wind from the mountain related to Sanskrit giriacute- Avestan gairi- and ancient Slavic gora
mountain (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of gods
ΒῶροςBOROSBORUS1 Mentioned in Homer as the father of Phaestus Hom Il 5 44 he lived in Tarne Maeonia in the region of Smyrna
2 Another Borus in Homer (Il 16 177-178) son of Perieres was married to Polydora in Phthia Thessaly Polydora the
daughter of Peleus and Antigone 2 (Apollod Bibl 3 13 1) had a son Menesthius actually fathered by the river god
Spercheus (Il 16 173-176) 3 Son of Penthilus a descendant of Nestor grandson of Periclymenus had a son named
Andropompus who was the father of Melanthus who was expelled by the Hereclidae (Pausan 2 18 8)
The name probably is not Greek hence it is pointless to search for an explanation (as Pape-Benseler have done s v) by
resorting to the Hesychian gloss Βωροί ὀφθαλmicroοί eyes (Frisk GEW s v) Possibly related to the Βωρεῖς the name
of a tribe in Cyzicus (von Kamptz Homerische Personenn sect 81 pp 322)
Category Names of heroes
ΒουφάγοςBOUPHAGUSArcadian hero son of Iapetos and of Thornax killed by Artemis while chasing her on Mt Pholoe (Pausan 8 14 9 27 17)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of βοῦς ldquooxrdquo and the aorist φαγεῖν of the verb ἐσθίω ldquoto eatrdquo it therefore means ldquoeater
of oxenrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ΒούτηςBOUTESBUTESName of various people including 1 A son of Boreas father of Hippodamia (Diod Sic 4 70) who tried to kill his
half-brother Licurgus and once discovered fled from Thessaly to Naxos where he became a pirate (Diod Sic 5 50)
2 Another was the son of the king of Athens Pandion and Zeuxippe (Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) brother of Procne and
Philomela founder of the hereditary priesthood of the Athenian Eteobutadai 3 A third son of Teleon participated
in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 4 912-19) He was the only one who threw himself into the sea
after he heard the song of the Sirens overwhelmed by the song of Orpheus He was saved by Aphrodite and afterwards
founded the colony of Lilybaeum near Eryx on Sicily
Derived from βούς cow and simply means cowherd
Category Names of heroes
ΒουζύγηςBOUZYGESA mythical character to whom the invention of the yoke is attributed (Serv ad Verg Georg 1 19 Hesych s v)
The name is a simple compound of βούς cow and the verb ζεύγνυmicroι to join and therefore means yoker of cows
Category Names of heroes
ΒράγχοςBRANCHUSSon of Smycrus a hero orginally from Delphi but who settled in Miletus before his birth his mother had a vision of the
sun descending into her mouth passing through her body and out of her vulva He was beloved by Apollo who gave
him the gift of prophecy (Conon Narr 33)
The name derives from the adjective βραγχός hoarse a technical term whose etymology is not clear one could
perhaps compare old Irish brong(a)ide hoarseness (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ΒρέmicroουσαBREMUSAAccording to a late poem (IV cent CE) she is one of the 12 Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy Quint
Smyrn Posthom 1 43 she is killed by Idomeneus with a stroke of his spear to her right breast
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
20
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
21
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
22
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
23
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
24
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
25
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
26
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΒιήνωρBIENORTrojan captain with a Greek name called ποιmicroὴν λαῶν shepherd of people mentioned only once in Hom Il 11
92-93 when he was killed and stripped of his arms by Agamemnon together with his companion in arms and charioteer
Oileus
With the verbal sense of βια- it means ldquohe who with force dominates the enemy herordquo cf Bianor (Wathelet
Dictionnaire des Troyens I p 372-374) Elephenor Elpenor
Category Names of heroes
ΒορέαςBOREASGod of the North Wind the son of Eos and Astraeus brother of Zephyrus and Notus (Hes Theog 378)
One theory is that it means wind from the mountain related to Sanskrit giriacute- Avestan gairi- and ancient Slavic gora
mountain (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of gods
ΒῶροςBOROSBORUS1 Mentioned in Homer as the father of Phaestus Hom Il 5 44 he lived in Tarne Maeonia in the region of Smyrna
2 Another Borus in Homer (Il 16 177-178) son of Perieres was married to Polydora in Phthia Thessaly Polydora the
daughter of Peleus and Antigone 2 (Apollod Bibl 3 13 1) had a son Menesthius actually fathered by the river god
Spercheus (Il 16 173-176) 3 Son of Penthilus a descendant of Nestor grandson of Periclymenus had a son named
Andropompus who was the father of Melanthus who was expelled by the Hereclidae (Pausan 2 18 8)
The name probably is not Greek hence it is pointless to search for an explanation (as Pape-Benseler have done s v) by
resorting to the Hesychian gloss Βωροί ὀφθαλmicroοί eyes (Frisk GEW s v) Possibly related to the Βωρεῖς the name
of a tribe in Cyzicus (von Kamptz Homerische Personenn sect 81 pp 322)
Category Names of heroes
ΒουφάγοςBOUPHAGUSArcadian hero son of Iapetos and of Thornax killed by Artemis while chasing her on Mt Pholoe (Pausan 8 14 9 27 17)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of βοῦς ldquooxrdquo and the aorist φαγεῖν of the verb ἐσθίω ldquoto eatrdquo it therefore means ldquoeater
of oxenrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ΒούτηςBOUTESBUTESName of various people including 1 A son of Boreas father of Hippodamia (Diod Sic 4 70) who tried to kill his
half-brother Licurgus and once discovered fled from Thessaly to Naxos where he became a pirate (Diod Sic 5 50)
2 Another was the son of the king of Athens Pandion and Zeuxippe (Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) brother of Procne and
Philomela founder of the hereditary priesthood of the Athenian Eteobutadai 3 A third son of Teleon participated
in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 4 912-19) He was the only one who threw himself into the sea
after he heard the song of the Sirens overwhelmed by the song of Orpheus He was saved by Aphrodite and afterwards
founded the colony of Lilybaeum near Eryx on Sicily
Derived from βούς cow and simply means cowherd
Category Names of heroes
ΒουζύγηςBOUZYGESA mythical character to whom the invention of the yoke is attributed (Serv ad Verg Georg 1 19 Hesych s v)
The name is a simple compound of βούς cow and the verb ζεύγνυmicroι to join and therefore means yoker of cows
Category Names of heroes
ΒράγχοςBRANCHUSSon of Smycrus a hero orginally from Delphi but who settled in Miletus before his birth his mother had a vision of the
sun descending into her mouth passing through her body and out of her vulva He was beloved by Apollo who gave
him the gift of prophecy (Conon Narr 33)
The name derives from the adjective βραγχός hoarse a technical term whose etymology is not clear one could
perhaps compare old Irish brong(a)ide hoarseness (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ΒρέmicroουσαBREMUSAAccording to a late poem (IV cent CE) she is one of the 12 Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy Quint
Smyrn Posthom 1 43 she is killed by Idomeneus with a stroke of his spear to her right breast
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
20
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
21
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
22
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
23
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
24
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
25
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
26
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
27
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
33
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
35
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
37
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is a compound of βοῦς ldquooxrdquo and the aorist φαγεῖν of the verb ἐσθίω ldquoto eatrdquo it therefore means ldquoeater
of oxenrdquo
Category Names of heroes
ΒούτηςBOUTESBUTESName of various people including 1 A son of Boreas father of Hippodamia (Diod Sic 4 70) who tried to kill his
half-brother Licurgus and once discovered fled from Thessaly to Naxos where he became a pirate (Diod Sic 5 50)
2 Another was the son of the king of Athens Pandion and Zeuxippe (Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) brother of Procne and
Philomela founder of the hereditary priesthood of the Athenian Eteobutadai 3 A third son of Teleon participated
in the voyage of the Argonauts (Apoll Rhod Argon 4 912-19) He was the only one who threw himself into the sea
after he heard the song of the Sirens overwhelmed by the song of Orpheus He was saved by Aphrodite and afterwards
founded the colony of Lilybaeum near Eryx on Sicily
Derived from βούς cow and simply means cowherd
Category Names of heroes
ΒουζύγηςBOUZYGESA mythical character to whom the invention of the yoke is attributed (Serv ad Verg Georg 1 19 Hesych s v)
The name is a simple compound of βούς cow and the verb ζεύγνυmicroι to join and therefore means yoker of cows
Category Names of heroes
ΒράγχοςBRANCHUSSon of Smycrus a hero orginally from Delphi but who settled in Miletus before his birth his mother had a vision of the
sun descending into her mouth passing through her body and out of her vulva He was beloved by Apollo who gave
him the gift of prophecy (Conon Narr 33)
The name derives from the adjective βραγχός hoarse a technical term whose etymology is not clear one could
perhaps compare old Irish brong(a)ide hoarseness (Chantraine DELG)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ΒρέmicroουσαBREMUSAAccording to a late poem (IV cent CE) she is one of the 12 Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy Quint
Smyrn Posthom 1 43 she is killed by Idomeneus with a stroke of his spear to her right breast
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
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(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
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ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
28
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
35
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The feminine participle of the verb βρέmicroω to clamor shout onomatopoetic (Beekes Etym Dict Greek s v) in
reference to the clamor of battle cf Clonie Clonios meaning She who incites the din of war There are no other
examples of this feminine name among Greek personal names
Category Female names
ΒριάρεωςBRIAREOSOne of the Hecatoncheires named thus by the gods whereas men called him Aegeon (Hom Il 1 403 396 ss Hes
Theog 147-153)
A compound of Βρι- deriving from βριαρός strong powerful and of ἀρή misfortune ruin it therefore means the
one who causes great harm (Chantraine DELG s v βριαρός) (cf with prepositional prefix ὀβρ- West Theog p 210)
ΒρισηΐςBRISEISPatronymic of a young woman from Pedasus called Hippodamia 3 daughter of Briseus (or Brise the king and perhaps
the priest of Pedasus) Married in Lyrnessus a city by the river Evenus (Freacuteneli-thscai) governed by the king Mynes
(Μύνης Il 2 692 19 296 ff cf Strabo 13 1 7) she was captured and enslaved to Achilles who conquers the city
and kills her husband and three brothers (Hom Il 19 295-296) as she herself recalls when mourning the death of
Patroclus we know the names of Minetes (perhaps her husband) and Epistrophus sons of Evenus 2 killed by Achilles
in the conquest of Lyrnessus cf Hom Il 2 690-693 and Scholia ad loc She is mentioned 14 times in the Iliad (1 184
323 336 346 392 689 9 106 132 274 19 176 246 261 282 24 676) where she has a rather important role as
the concubine of Achilles and the cause of his anger
Patronymic derived from the ethnic Briseus vid s v Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) suggests an improbable hypocoristic
form of a Βρισίmicroαχος from βρίθω to weigh down crush and means one who crushes the enemy in battle
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
Βρισεύς (Βρίσης)BRISEUS BRISESSon of Ardys father of Briseis mentioned only as such in the Iliad (Hom Il 1 392 9 132 e 274) according to other
sources he may have been king or perhaps a priest of Lyrnessus a city in Mysia or of Pedasus (called Moneia in antiquity)
on the river Satnioeis and the brother of Chryses (Schol ad Hom Il 6 34 Eustath Comm ad Il 2 284 ff 1 184 who
cites ancient geographers) In Homer the name is found only in the form Βρισεύς Briseus then perhaps by analogy
with the name of the priest Chryses Χρύσης the form Βρίσης also occurs
The etymology is not easy it could even be a non-Greek name Von Kamptz (Homer Personennamen sect 56 b 2 p
152) understands it to be an ethnic like the feminine Βρισηΐς and cites the mountainous region of Bresa or Brisa on
the island of Lesbos (Steph Byz Ethn 186 20 Βρῖσα ἄκρα Λέσβου) just as the name of Χρύσης and his daughter
Χρυσηΐς would be derived from Χρύση a city of the Troad The two feminine names also turn up as patronymics for
Hippodamia (Briseis) and Astynome (Criseis) cf Eustath ad Il 1 184 In this case the two meanings could be combined
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
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Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
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The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
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It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
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Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
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Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
33
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
37
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
(a patronymic of a masculine name in turn derived from a toponym which then is extended to the daughters) A
derivation from βρίθω to be weighty to make heavy put forth by Carnoy (DEMGR s v Brisēis) must be rejected
Category Names of heroes
ΒρόντηςBRONTESName of one of the Cyclopes son of Uranus and Gaia (Hes Theog 140)
Derives from βροντή thunder and therefore means the thunderer or simply thunder
ΒούκολοςBUCOLUSThe son of Colonus an inhabitant of Tanagra in Boeotia his sister Ochne loved Eunostus but rejected she accused
him of having tried to rape her and so her brothers killed him and then they fled (Plut Qu Gr 40)
The name means cowherd it is a compound of βοῦς cow and the verb πέλοmicroαι
Category Names of heroes
ΒοῦνοςBUNUSA Corinthian hero son of Hermes and Alcidamea who received the throne of Corinth from Aeeumltes (Pausan 2 3 10 4 7)
The name derives from βουνός mountain hillrdquo with the recessive accent characteristic of anthroponyms Bunus
founded a sanctuary to Hera on the summit of Acrocorinth
Category Names of heroes
ἍδηςHADESGod of the underworld son of Chronus and Rhea husband of Persephone (Hesiod Theog 311)
There are various interpretations of this name 1) It was analyzed from ἀ-ιδ-(α) by Plato (Gorg 493 b Crat 403 a)
with the meaning invisible 2) Because of the aspiration a form ἁ-ιδ- has been suggested identical to ancient Indian
sam-vid- to be together reunite with the meaning to be together with the god of the afterlife This interpretation
implies that the long α- of Ἀίδης is to be considered secondary 3) A comparison with ἀίσσω has been attempted with
the meaning who hurls himself quickly impetuously powerfully (Danielsson Indog Forsch 14 1903 pp 387 ss)
MYTH HOM Catherine Cousin La situation geacuteographique et les abords de lHades homeacuterique GAIA 6 2002 pp 25-46
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
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Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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ἉγνώHAGNOName of a nymph of the spring on mount Lycaeus according to an Arcadian legend she was said to have raised infant
Zeus (Pausan 8 31 2 38 2 ss 47 3)
It is derived from the adjective ἁγνός ldquosacred pure chasterdquo and means ldquopurerdquo
Category Names of gods
ἉλίαHALIAName of a heroine of Rhodes sister of the Telchines (Diod Sic 5 55) and of one of the Nereids (Hesiod Theog 245)
It derives from ἅλς sea and means the seascape
ἉλιάκmicroωνHALIAKMONName of a river-god in Macedonia son of Okeanos and Tethys (Hesiod Theog 341) and of an inhabitant of Tiryns
who in a fit of madness threw himself into the river Karmanor which from then on took its name from him (Ps-Plut
De fluv 18 1)
It is possibly a compound of ἅλς sea and of ἄκmicroων rock then anvil or ἀκmicroή height and means promontory
The first theory seems preferable
Theme Eponymism
ὨκεανόςOCEAN (prova)Sin Urana i Geje mitska rijeka što okružuje svijet (Hesiod Theog 133 ss)
Prema Frisku (Gr Et Woumlrt) propali su pokušaji pronalaženja indoeuropske etimologije za ovu imenicu kao na primjer
usporedba sa staroindijskim a-saacuteyana- onaj koji okružuje (Boisacq Dict Eacutet l gr) ili nastanak od indoeuropskog oku-
eianom (božja rijeka bog-rijeka) brzog toka (usp ὠκύς i i staroindijski aacuteyanam hod) što pretpostavlja Borgeaud
(Indog Forsch 66 1961 str 49ndash51) Chantraine (DELG) drži da se radi o posuđenici iako još uvijek nedokazanoj čime
tumači i postojanje usporednog oblika Ὠγηνός Carnoy (DEMGR) smatra da se radi o pelazgijskoj riječi s prefiksom o
i nastavkom na -ano izvedenoj iz osnove keu- (indoeuropski geu okretati se kružiti) According to Weizsaumlcker (in
Roscher Myth Lex III col 816) it would be a compound of ὠκύς and νάω scroll meaning one who runs fast or
would be a form corresponding to Ὠγύγη ancient (cf Ogigo)
ὈχήσιοςOCHESIOSFather of Periphas 1 (Hom Il 5 843) son of Oineus (thus Diomedesrsquo 2 uncle) according to Schol ad loc that
cites Nicander Aitolika (Fr 8 a p 201 Gow-Scholfield) he apparently lived in Aitolia probably in Calydon and is
not mentioned elsewhere
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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Derived from ὀχέω cfr ὄχηmicroα vehicle with suffix -ιος It means driver charioteer (Pape-Benseler WgE s v
von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 39 c 3) perhaps a hypocoristic form cfr Κτήσιος from Κτήσ- ιππος
Category Names of heroes
ὨκύαλοςOCYALOS1 Name of a young man of the Phaeacian people among those who competed in the athletic contests in the presence
of Odysseus a Homeric hapax Od 8 111 2 The feminine Ocyale (ΩΚΥΑ[Λ]Η) is attested in Greek only from a vase
inscription as the name of an Amazon battling Theseus on an aryballos depicting Theseus Amazonomachy by the Aison
Painter (from Cumae in the Museo Naz di Napoli) cf Enc Treccani on line s v In Latin the name is mentioned by
Hyginus (Fab 163) in a short catalogue of 15 Amazons
It is derived from the adjective that simply means swift on the sea from ὠκύς swift and ἅλς sea It is a fitting
personal name for the Phaeacians who almost all bear names that allude to sailing but it seems less appropriate for
an Amazon
Category Names of heroes
ὨκυπέτηOCYPETEName of a Harpy and of a Danaid
It is a simple compound of the adjective ὠκύς swift and the verb πέτοmicroαι fly and so means one who flies swiftly
a fitting name for a Harpy
Ὠκυρόη ὨκυρρόηOCYRRHOEName of an Oceanid and of various nymphs
It is a compound of ὠκύς swift and of the verb ῥέω to flow in the o-grade (Chantraine DELG s v ῥέω and ὠκύς)
and so means she who flows swiftly
ὈδίοςODIOS1 Achaean herald who together with another herald Eurybates accompanies the embassy to Achilles at Hom Il 9
170 2 Trojan ally warrior who with Epistrophos leads the Halizones from Alybe where the birthplace of silver is
mentioned in the Trojan catalogue Hom Il 2 856-857 Alybe is said to be a region of Bithynia in Schol Hom Il 2
857 He is killed while fleeing from Agamemnon Il 5 38-42 who strikes him with his spear from his chariot
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The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
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It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
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Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
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Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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The breathing varies in the MS tradition (rough breathing in the latest Teubner edition M L West 1998-2000) Derived
from ὁδὁς with psilosis it means traveller wanderer cf ὁδιος epithet of Hermes god of the road who protects
the journey (von Kamptz Homer Personennamen sect 71 b 2 pp 264-265)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOFELTIO1 Uno degli Achei uccisi da Ettore in Il 11 302 2 Troiano ucciso dalleroe argivo Eurialo egrave figlio di Mecisteo Il 6 20
Deriva da ὄφελος (vantaggio aiuto) con il suffisso -τιος di senso patronimico o forse ipocoristico (v von Kamptz
Homer Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) Il nome dunque esprime la nozione di utile come altri nomi omerici
cfr Onetore e Ofeleste
Category Names of heroes
ΟἰκλῆςOICLESSon of Antifate 1 and Zeuxippe 2 grandson of the seer Melampous in his turn he is the father of the ill-fated seer
Amphiaraos Oiumlkles is mentioned as part of the ancestry of his descendant the seer Theoklymenos as the latter is
about to ask Telemachos to take him on board his ship from Pylos to Ithaca (Hom Od 15 243-244) He belongs to the
generation of Herakles and the Argonauts he helped Herakles in the course of the first sack of Troy at the time of
Laomedon guarding the ships and is killed defending these from a Trojan attack Diod Sic Bibl 4 32)
The name appears in the form Ὀϊκλήης -κλείης its other Homeric occurrence is in the acc Ὀϊκλῆα Derived from
Ϝι-κλης very glorious a compound of Ὀϊ- or Ϝι- (cf Ὀϊλεύς from Ϝι- λεύς Chantraine Gramm Hom I pp 116-117)
paralleled with sanskr vi-śravas- very glorious also used as a personal name (von Kamptz Hom Personennamen sect
66 p 212) cf Perikles Periklymenos
Category Names of heroes
Theme Prophecy
ὈνήτωρONETORName of two persons in Homer 1 A Trojan priest of Idaean Zeus honoured by the people like a god (Il 16 604) his
son Laogonos is killed by Meriones (Il 16 603-7) 2 Father of Phrontis helmsman of Menelaos ship on his way home
from Troy (Hom Od 3 282 a patronymic form)
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It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
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Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
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Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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It means benefactor (cf Hom ὄνησις benefit von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) In
Mycenaean we find the agent noun ὀνᾱτήρ -ῆρες beneficial (o-na-te-re Nom plur PY En 74 21221) ὀνάτωρ is
found in Pindar (Ol 11 9)
Category Names of heroes
ὈφελέστηςOPHELESTES1 Trojan mentioned as he is killed by Teukros along with several others Il 8 274 2 One of several Paeonians killed
by Achilles Il 21 210
From ὄφελος (advantage help) with the agent noun suffix -ης cf also Orestes Ὀρέσ-της Cf Myc o-pe-re-ta PY
An 2093) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other Homeric names such as Opheltios and Onetor
cf Opheltes See von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen sect 70 b 2 p 256) who also considers the possibility of
foreign (Illyrian) provenance
Category Names of heroes
ὈφέλτιοςOPHELTIOS1 One of the Achaeans slain by Hektor at Il 11 302 2 A Trojan killed by the Argive hero Euryalos son of Mekisteus
Il 6 20
From ὄφελος (advantage help denomin ὀφέλλω) with suffix -τιος of patronymic or hypocoristic sense (see von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 39 a 2 p 114-115) The name thus expresses the notion of useful as do other
Homeric names such as Ophelestes and Onetor cfr Opheltes
Category Names of heroes
ὈπίτηςOPITESAchaean warrior killed by Hektor along with eight others (Il 11 301)
From ὄπις in Hom vengeance (of the gods) thus avenger Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep s v
Category Names of heroes
ὮψOPS (OPE)1 Son of Peisenor and father of Eurykleia Odysseus faithful servant (Εὐρύκλει΄ Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο a
formulaic verse Od 1 429 2 347 20 148) 2 Father of Melas in later sources (Paus 8 28 5) warrior in whose guise
Athena tried to prevent Teuthis from leaving Aulis as he was unwilling to follow Agamemnon to Troy
The name is from the root op- ōp- (okw- ōkw-) with barytonesis The oxyton noun ὄψ -οπός eye face (cf ὄπωπα)
is used as a component of personal names See von Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 214 cf Europa and
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Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
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Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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Hom PN Οἶν-οψ Φαῖν-οψ) Ops was interpreted as much seen illustrious already in antiquity (περίβλεπτος cfr
Schol ad Il 1 429) Alternative (but less likely) derivation from ὄψ voice (Muumlhlestein SMEA 9 1969 81)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρέσβιοςORESBIOSAchaean hero mentioned (hapax) among others as a victim of Hektor (Hom Il 5 707 whit the rare epithet αἰολοmicroίτρης
with a coloured belt) He is said to have been a rich man who dwelt in Hyle
The name signifies simply living on mountains (from ὄρος and βιόω cf Opp Cyn 3 345 ὀρέσβιον οἷα λέαιναν) and
is probably invented (G S Kirk The Iliad a Commentary p 130 ad Hom Il 5 705-707)
Category Names of heroes
ὈρσίλοχοςORSILOCO1 Son of the river Alpheios father of Diokles lord of Phere in Messenia (Hom Il 5 544-547 Od 3 489 15 187
21 15) 2 Grandson of the above and son of Diokles the names spelling curiously varies 1 Orti- and 2 Orsi- cf
Schol Hom Il 5 542 b ὁ πρόγονος διὰ τοῦ τ ὁ παῖς διὰ τοῦ ς a variation known already to Zenodotos united as
Orti- in the edition of West BGT 2000) killed together with his brother Krethon by Aineias in Il 5 541-560 3 Trojan
warrior killed together with numerous others by the arrows of Teukros 1 Hom Il 8 274 4 Son of Cretan Idomeneus
in the invented account of Odysseus Hom Od 13 259-271 intended to hide his true identity from Athena Odysseus
supposedly murdered Orsilochos and consequently left Crete and went to exile 5 The name resurfaces in Virgil Aen
11 636 689 694 (for a giant Trojan warrior killed by Camilla) and in Hygin Astron 13 2 for no other than the
inventor of the four-horse chariot which supposedly became the constellation of Auriga (The Charioteer)
Derived from Orti- by assibilation cf o-ti-na-wo PY Cn 285 14 it is an active verbal compound ὄρ-νυmicroι and -λόχος
a company of soldiers or ambush a frequent component in archaic Greek names cf Amphilochos Antilochos
Eurylochos It hence means he who urges troops to fight or who incites an ambush
Category Names of heroes
ὌθρυονεύςOTHRYONEUSTrojan ally from Kabesos killed by Idomeneus spear (Il 13 362-73) he had only recently arrived at the war with
the hope of marrying Priamrsquos daughter Kassandra in exchange for helping the Trojans defeat their Achaean opponents
(ibid Il 13 364-9)
Derived from Ὄθρυς name of a Thessalian mountain chain mentioned by Herodotus and Strabo and a suffix
-ονεύςsbquo (-ον- originates in a place-name ending cf Ἠιών - Ἠιονεύς Ἴλιος - Ἰλιονεύς von Kamptz Homerische
Personennamen sect 42 c pp 124-125) For Othrys cf Othryonei name of a Macedonian tribe mentioned by Pliny the
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Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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Elder Nat hist 4 10 17 (35) Hesychius glosses ὄθρυν with ὄρος mount Othrys may be related to Myc o-du-ru-we
and must be of pre-Greek origin (Chantraine DELG and Beekes - Beek s v Ὄθρυς -υος)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Test
ΟὐρανόςOURANOSName of a divinity of the sky son and husband of Gaia from whom Cronos father of Zeus descends
For many years much credence was given to the (still widely accepted) hypothesis that Οὐρανός is related to Sanskrit
Varuna- placing ὀ()ορανός with initial vocalism alongside ()ορανός This encouraged G Dumeacutezil to compare the
mythic function of the two gods Ouranos and Varuna (Dumeacutezil Bull de la Socieacuteteacute de ling de Paris 40 1939 p
53) Phonetically however this etymology cannot be supported as Wackernagel (Sprachliche Unters zu Homer p
136 n 1) has demonstrated there is regular contract in Greek of οο- and in any case Varuna (the accent of which
also does not agree with Οὐρανός) is not a god of the sky Wackernagel (Kleine Schriften 1 p 632) instead suggests
deriving the name from =έρση and ουρέω and in particular from Sanskrit vorza rain That the initial diphthong
οὐ- is spurious is known thanks to Doric ὠρανός Aeolic ὤρανος (for which one expects ὄρρανος) Hence the name
would mean he who sends the rain and the dew who makes fertile a plausible - even if not absolutely certain -
interpretation Ouranos could also be a name borrowed from some other language Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p
1152) proposes another Indo-European etymology deriving the name from the root uer- extended to uer-d- uer-s- an
elevated place comparable with Skt varsman- height Lith virsus upper summit its meaning would therefore
be he who stands erect on high But this is hardly likely
Category Names of gods
ΠαλαmicroήδηςPALAMEDESSon of Nauplius and Clymene (or Philyra or Hesione 2) took part in the expedition against Troy various inventions are
attributed to him including the games of dice and perhaps chess weights and measures and even writing (Philostr
Heroic 10 Lex Suda s v) Unknown to Homer he is cited in the Cypria Fr 30 Bernabeacute frequently mentioned in
Attic drama and throughout the 5th c Eponymous of the Rock of Palamidis at modern Nauplion (GR)
The name is composed of παλάmicroη hand palm of the hand and of the verb microήδοmicroαι consider a plan prepare have
in mind (Chantraine DELG s v microήδοmicroαι) perhaps via παλαmicroοmicroήδης (G Markwald in Snell Lex fr Ep p 939) thus
it means he who is able above all with his hands
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
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ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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ΠαλικοίPALIKOITwin autochthonous gods (or heroes) of Sicily sons of Zeus and Thaleia or of Etna and Oceanus (Steph Biz s v
παλική) who cites Aesch Fr 6 Aetn They had a sacred precinct near the city bearing their name with a fountain
where many extraordinary events occurred (Diod Sic Bibl 11 89 1-6)
Polemon (II aev de fluv mirab Fr 83 cited by Macrobius Saturn 5 19 15) recounts that their mother fearing
Hera hid herself underground and that the twins were born up from the soil thus the name would derive from πάλιν
again and would mean those who return cfr Steph Byz loc cit Carnoy (DEMGR) claims instead that because their
cult took place in an area rich in sulfur (and was thus of grayish hue) the name derives from the Indo-European root
pel- whence Gr πελιδνός gray and πελιός livid pale this hypothesis is maintained also by Bloch (in Roscher
Myth Lex III col 1291)
Category Names of heroes
ΠαλίνουροςPALINURUSName of Aeneas helmsman son of Iasus who fell into the sea giving his name to the cape in Campania between Velia
and Policastro still known as Palinuro (Verg Aen 5 833-861 6 337-382 Dion Halicarn 1 53 1 one of Aeneas
helmsmen) Strabo knows of the promontory 6 1 1
Formation of the type ἐπίουρος (from ἐπί-ορσος) that repeatedly watches over from an archaic present ὄροmicroαι
(Chantraine DELG s v ὁράω) guard watch over already in Mycenean o-ro-me-no that watches over (the herd)
Also according to Carnoy (DEMGR) it could be related to ἐπίουρος in the sense of watchful that looks straight ahead
and thus ironic () for a ships hand meaning he who looks behind Another hypothesis Immisch (in Roscher Myth
Lex III col 1299) thinks the name may refer to curved rocks given that it is an eponym of a promontory for the
same reason it could be related to οὐρά tail Another possibility is that the name is composed of οὖρος favorable
wind and that it means having a favorable stern wind or referring to the promontory cape from which breezes blow
repeatedly (πάλιν) Pape - Benseler WGE s v
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ПαλλήνηPALLENE1 Daughter of Sithon king of the Thracian Chersonese and Anchiroe who gave her name to one of the promontories of
the Chalcidician Peninsula also called Cassandra (Parthen Narr amat 6 Conon Narr 10 Steph Byz s v Пαλλήνη)
Steph Byz citing Teagenes and Egesippus recounts different versions among which that the peninsula P was once
known as Phlegra and had once been inhabitated by the Giants 2 whence Pallene daughter of the giant Alcioneus
(who would be killed by Heracles Apollod Bibl 1 6 1) tranformed into a bird along with her sisters the Alcionides
(Suda s v Ἀλκυονίδες) the seven sisters became the birds with that name and periods when the seas were calm
were called by sailors Alcionid days
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be derived from Indo-European bel- pel- mud but this explanation
is has little motivation The suffix -ήνη (-άνα) is in any case pre-Greek and for that reason any connection with the
verb πάλλω brandish a spear throw (cf Pallas) is unlikely
Category Female names
Theme Eponymism
ΠάmicroφυλοςPAMPHYLUSSon of Aegimius brother of Dymas and Dorus eponymous of one of the two Doric tribes Dymaniacutes e Pamphyliacutes (Schol
ad Pind Pyth 1 121 a-c) married Orsobia daughter of the Heraclid Deiphon and died fitting with the Heraclids in the
conquest of the Peloponnese (Paus 2 28 6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and φῦλον φῡλή tribe and therefore means completely belonging to the
tribe
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΠανάκειαPANACEADaughter of Asclepius and Lampetia 2 sister of Iasus goddess of healing through plants (Paus 1 34 3) invoked with
her father and sister Hygeia in Hippocr Jusiur 2 involved in the healing of Pluto in Aristoph Plut 702 730-732
The name comes from an appellative composed of πᾶς every and the substantive ἄκος cure remedy the result
is a possessive compound (Chantraine DELG s v πᾶς) meaning she that has all remedies or cure for all ills
Category Female names
ПαγκράτιςPANCRATISDaughter of Aloeus and Iphimedeia she was abducted during a Thracian raid dei of Naxos and was given in marriage to
Agassamenus she died shortly after being liberated by her brothers Otus and Ephialtes (Parthen Narr 19 who calls
her Пαγκρατώ Diod Sic Bibl 5 50 6 - 51 2)
The name is composed of πᾶς every and κράτος force power a possessive compound meaning she who has every
power or daughter of he who lords over all (see also the adjective παγκράτης lord of all omnipotent)
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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ΠανδάρεωςPANDAREUS1 Son of the Pleiad Merope there are various myths related to this figure (cf e g Paus 10 30 1) 2 One Pandareus
living in the region of Ephesus is mentioned by Antonin Lib Metam 11 (from Boios Ornithog) as father of Aeumldon and
transformed at the end of a tragic event into a sea eagle (ἁλιάετος perhaps the giant petrel Macronectes Giganteus)
Carnoy (DEMGR) derives this name from pand- bent but this explanation is insufficient According to Roscher
(Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) it comes from Panda a place
near Magnesia on Sipylus with the addition of a suffix in r- see Pandarus
Category Names of heroes
Theme Transformation
ΠάνδαροςPANDARUSHead of a Lycian contingent allied with the Trojans son of Lycaon he learned archery from Apollo (Hom Il 2 826-827)
Urged by Athena he broke the truce between Greeks and Trojans by striking Menelaus with an arrow (Hom Il 4 89ff)
Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests a derivation from pand- bent as for Pandareus Roscher (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1503)
and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 361) think it comes from Panda a place near Magnesia on Sipylus
Category Names of heroes
ΠανδίωνPANDIONName of two Athenian kings of the autochthonous dynasty of Ericthonius 1 son of Ericthonius and Pasithea father
of Philomela and Procne father-in-law of Tereus (Thucyd 2 29 3) He had two twin brothers Erectheus and Butes
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 6) 2 son of Cecrops (not the founder of the Athenian dynasty but one of his descendants)
exiled from Athens to Megara thereafter marrying the daughter of Pylas and fathering numerous children (Apollod
Bibl 3 15 5-6)
The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δῖος bright illustrious and thus means completely bright
splendid (von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 93) Houmlfer (Roscher Myth Lex III col 1519) thinks it is a
Lycian name
Category Names of heroes
ПάνδροσοςPANDROSUSDaughter of Cecrops and Aglaurus sister of Agraule (-graulo) she was punished by death for having opened the box in
which Athena had hidden Ericthonius (Apollod Bibl 3 14 2) Her name like those of her sister and mother (Aristoph
Thesm 533 e Schol ad l) was invoked by women and was also an epithet of Athena (Schol ad Aristoph Lys 439)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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The name is a compound of πᾶς every and δρόσος dew and therefore means entirely dewy just as another of
her sisters was called Ἕρση that is dew
Category Female names
ΠεισίστρατοςPEISISTRATOSSon of Nestor the youngest of seven (six living Od 3 413-415 as Antilocos died at Troy) He is mentioned only in the
Odyssey where he hosts Telemachos in Pylos (Od books 3-4) and accompanies him to Sparta (Od book 15)
The name is a compound of πείθω and στρατός army and suggests the meaning he who persuades the army army
leader (cf Peisistratos designation as ὄρχαmicroος ἀνδρῶν leader of men Od 3 454 482) It is one of three Homeric
names with first component πεισ- (the other two are the synonymous Πείσανδρος Πεισήνωρ persuader of men) Von
Kamptz Homerische Personennamen sect 66 p 215 Peisistratos is not in the list of Nestors sons in the Hesiodic Catalogue
(fr 35 M-W) and was possibly invented by the Odyssey poet The name might alternatively have been inspired by
Nestors eloquence and wise counsel (cf Il 1 248-249) also reflected in the son (πεπνυmicroένος Od 3 52 4 204) see
now M L West The Making of the Odyssey p 90
Category Names of heroes
ΠεισιδίκηPISIDICEName of several mythical figures Apollodorus mentions three 1 A daughter of Aeolus (Bibl 1 7 3) and Enarete
wife of Myrmidon and mother of Antiphus and Actor ([Hes] Fr 16 M-W Bibl 1 7 3) 2 A daughter of Nestor and
Anaxibia (Bibl 1 9 9) 3 A daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia Phylomache (Bibl 1 9 10) 4 Another memorable
P is the daughter of a king of Methymna in Lesbos who fell in love with Achilles and opened the city gates for him
allowing him to conquer Methymna Achilles then ordered her to be stoned to death by his soldiers for treason (Parthen
Narr amat 21)
The combination of the verb πείθω (transitive) is commonly found in onomastics and produces (in analogy to Peisinoe
Peisander Peisenor Peisistratus or to the adjective πεισι-θάνατος persuading to death) with δίκη justice the
significance persuading to do justice (or daughter of him who persuadeshellip) A derivation from Aeol πεισ- (cf τεισ-)
has also been suggested (see RE s v Peisidike cf J L Lightfoot Parthenius of Nicaea p 496) and would imply the
meaning she who paid the price from τίνω ἔτεισα (for her betrayal - this would suit Parthenius heroine) but seems
untenable
Category Female names
ΠολυξένηPOLYXENEDaughter of Priam and Hecuba (Apollod Bibl 3 12 2 151) not mentioned in Homer according to the Sack of Troy
(Bernabeacute arg 1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 146) she was sacrificed on Achilles tomb (cf Eurip Hec 40-44
Paus 1 22 6 10 25 10 Ov Metam 13 439 ff different version in Philostratus Her 51 1-6 Vit Apollon 4 16)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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Feminine form of Polyxenos entertaining many guests
Category Female names
Theme Abduction
ΠολύξενοςPOLYXENOSName of a number of mythical figures including 1 an Elean king entrusted with the safekeeping of the cattle of
Electryon which was stolen from the Taphians and was later ransomed by Amphitryon Apollod Bibl 2 4 6 2 one
of the priests of Demeter at Eleusis Hymn hom in Cer 154 3 one of Helens suitors Apollod Bibl 3 10 8 son of
Agasthenes grandson of Augeias and one of the four leaders of the Epeians in Homer (Il 2 623-624) he survived the
war Pausan 5 3 4 in the Telegony he appears as a host of Odysseus who visits Elis after the murder of the suitors in
order to inspect his herds Odysseus is entertained by Polyxenus and is offered a mixing bowl (kraacutetēr) Bernabeacute argum
1 West Greek Epic Fragments p 166 4 a son of Jason and Medea according to a version attributed to Hellan Fr
132 Fowler apud Pausan 2 3 8
From adjective πολύξεινος (πολύξενος) entertaining many guests (Hes Op 715 722) visited by many guests (for
a sacrificial tomb Pi Ol 1 93 in the feminine form for the island of Aegina Nem 3 2-3 τὰν πολυξέναν Δωρίδα
νᾶσον Αἴγιναν) Cf Polyxene
Category Names of heroes
ῬαδάmicroανθυςRHADAMANTHUSKing of Crete son of Europa and Zeus one of the three judges in the Underworld He is mentioned as being in Elysium
already in Hom Od 4564 (cf also 7323) with the epithet ξανθός
The suffix -νθ- suggests the anthroponym belongs to the onomastic substrate (cf Chantraine DELG) According to Van
Windekens (Contribution p 1) this suffix is characteristic of the Pelasgian territories that surround Thrace Macedonia
Greece proper and the areas inhabited by the Illyrians Carnoy (DEMGR) considers it a compound of Pelasgian manthu
thought and a word related to Avestan (u)rvata- wise from Indo-European uer to speak and thus meaning the
man who expresses wise thoughts Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt) suggests instead a connection with ῥάδαmicroνος branch sprout
with the ending changed in this case the name would mean he who wields a stick who carries a sceptre
Category Names of heroes
Theme Catabasis
ῬείαRHEADaughter of Gaia and Ouranos wife of Cronos (Hes Theog 453ff)
This name is quite difficult to interpret A number of suggestions have been made by Room (Rooms Classical Dictionary
p 268) the name may derive from the verb ῥέω to run or given that it is the name of a divinity of the earth it may
be associated with that of Hera and derive from ἔρα earth although this hypothesis cannot be verified According
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may be an epithet of the earth itself from Indo-European ueru Gr εὐρύς wide thus
meaning extensive
ῬῆσοςRHESOSThracian hero who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War (Hom Il 10434ff)
According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name was rezos the Thracian form of Latin rex from Indo-European rego-s which
has not survived in Greek since it is asatem language in Thracian the palatal -g undergoes assibilation This hypothesis
is endorsed also by Boisacq (Rev Eacutet Gr 39 1926 pp 332-34) and von Kamptz (Homerische Personennamen p 344)
ῬόδοςRHODOSWife of Helios the Sun eponymous of the island of Rhodes (Diod Sic 555)
The name derives from ῥόδον rose J Ilberg (in Roscher Myth Lex IV col 119) reports the hypothesis that it is an
abbreviated form of ῥοδοδάκτυλος or ῥοδόπηχυς epithets of Eos According to Carnoy (DEMGR) the name may derive
from Indo-European ered to run but this etymology is unmotivated
Theme Eponymism
ῬόπαλοςRHOPALOSSon of Phaestus and grandson of Heracles or son of Heracles (Pausan 267 101)
This name derives from the neuter substantive ῥόπαλον club cudgel obviously referring to his grandfathers (or
fathers) characteristic weapon
ΤάνταλοςTANTALOSFather of Pelops and grandfather of Atreus king of Sypilos in Lydia renowned for his wealth and misdeeds his
punishment for which in the underworld was to endure constant hunger and thirst despite the ready availability of food
and water (Hom Od 11582-92) another more widespread tradition holds that a boulder was suspended above his
head preventing him from tasting the food of the gods banquet (cf Apollod Epit 21)
The name derives from tela to endure suffer in the reduplicated form (from tll) ταλ-ταλ-ος dissimilated to
Τάνταλος comparable with ταλα- in ταλα-εργός ταλάσσαι (Chantraine DELG) Thus it may mean the endurer the
sufferer This interpretation obviates taking the name to mean he who carries (the sky) like Ἄτλας as has frequently
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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been suggested Plato (Crat 395) derives the name from ταλάντατος the most exhausted unhappiest In Mycenean
we find the name Ta-ta-ro (KN PY) which could be read as Τάνταλος (or even Τάλταλος)
Category Names of heroes
ΤάραςTARASName of a river that runs near the city in Magna Graecia named from it and from its god Lat Tarentum
According to Kretschmer (Glotta 14 1925 p 87 30 1940 p 104) the suffix -nt is particularly frequent in Illyrian
a poorly known language of which toponyms in -ntum are certainly characteristic The question is whether the suffix
has a participial or purely nominal function this is difficult to resolve because we are confronting thorny etymological
problems in a poorly attested language Carnoy (DEMGR) believes that the name comes from Indo-European taro-
swift (Sanskrit tarani- swift from the root ter) which is commonly found in river names eg Theacuterain Taro Tara
Tarascone
Category Names of gods
Theme Eponymism
ΤάρταροςTARTAROSGreat abyss found underground place of punishments (Hes Theog 119)
According to Chantraine (DELG) the etymology is unexplained and probably of Eastern origin Deroy (Revue
internationale donomastique 12 1960 p 12 ss) tries to explain it as a derivative of the pre-Hellenic stem tarta that
appears to mean far behind and thus western This would be found in Latin (from Etruscan) tardus that is placed
behind late slow tardare to be late slow and of course in Greek Τάρταρος the infernal region considered to be
located at the extreme western edge of the world Deroy thinks the term is of Aegean origin Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests
that the name if Pelasgian could be considered an intensified derivative of the root der to torment sin flay Gr
δέρω Ion δείρω Pers dart torment agony IE dortos
ΘαλίαTHALIAName of one of the nine Muses daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (cf Hesiod Theog 77)
Derives from the Greek verb θάλλω to bud flower bloom from Indo-European dhal-no thus meaning she who
blooms is in the flower of youth
ΘάλπιοςTHALPIOSSon of Terephon and Eurytus one of the leaders of the Epeans from Elis who participated in the Greek expedition
against Troy (Hom Il 2 618 ff)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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The name derives from the Greek verb θάλπω to warm kindle (Chantraine DELG and Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v
θάλπω) and thus means he who burns is warm
ΞανθίππηXANTHIPPE1 Daughter of Doros wife of Pleuron and mother of Agenor (Apollod Bibl 1 7 7) 2 Another Xanthippe daughter of
Mycon was supposed to have nourished her incarcerated father by her own breast milk Hygin Fab 253 3
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired and ἵππος horse therefore it means (possessed) of a tawny
mount with a possessive sense or simply tawny horse an appropriate name for an Amazon
ΞάνθοςXANTHOSA frequent name of men and horses such as 1 The immortal horse of Achilles given to Peleus by Poseidon who was
given the ability to speak by Hera in order to inform the hero of his coming death (Hom Il 19 404-424) 2 One of
the horses belonging to Hector (Hom Il 8 184-190) 3 One of the horses of the Dioscuri (Stesich Fr 1781 vv 2 P
apud Etym Magnum s v) and finally 3 One of the horses of Diomedes king of Thrace (Hygin Fab 30 9) It is also
the name of a Nereid in the feminine form in -ή Hesiod Theog 356
The name derives from ξανθός blond fair-haired (attested as an anthroponym already in Mycenean ka-sa-to PY
An 396) etymology unknown Frisk (Gr Et Woumlrt s v ξανθός) and Pokorny (Indog Etym Woumlrt p 533) doubt its
relation to the root kas- kas-no- gray Lat canus with the ending -dho- and disappearance of the root syllable ks-
en-dho but this derivation does not seem plausible in sense or form Hester (Lingua 13 1965 p 361) suggests a
Pelasgian origin from keu- k+u x or kand- Lat candidus
Category Kinds of animals
Theme Prophecy
ΞοῦθοςXOUTHOSSon of Hellenos and Orseis (var l Otreis) brother of Doros and Eolos father of Ion (actually fathered by Apollo) and
Achaios who gave their names to Ionia and Achaia (Hesiod Fr 9 M-W Hellan Fr 125 Fowler Apollod Bibl 1 7 3)
Derived from the adjective ξουθός with subsequent barytonesis (retraction of the accent) onto the penult The
adjectival ending -θος has many meanings at times contradictory cf Etym Magn s v senses of the adjective thus
range from tawny or greenish to melodious (perhaps by metaphorical transposition) The word is clearly attested
in Mycenean Ko-so-u-to KN Ch 900 and seems to be the name of a bull or a description of its coat Treated as an
35
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anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
37
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
anthroponym the chromatic sense seems the most likely cf Xanthos Pyrrhos Therefore it may mean tawny reddish
brown without plausible etymology (Frisk GrEtWoumlrt s v)
Category Names of heroes
ΖαγρεύςZAGREOSName of an ancient chthonic deity son of Zeus and Persephone often identified with Dionysos
The two most reasonable and widely accepted derivations are first that proposed by Chantraine (DELG) B Mader
(in Snell Lex fr Ep) and Perpillou (Les substantifs grecs en -εύς sect 389) from the name of the mountain Ζάγρος in
Asia Minor in this case it would be useless to seek an etymology from within Greek Second that proposed by Frisk
(Gr Et Woumlrt) and endorsed as well by Mader relating the name to ζάγρη trap for animals a form explainable as a
borrowing from a NorthWest Doric dialect ζαγρέω = ζωγρέω to trap living beings to capture live prey Chantraine
considers this unprovable Carnoy (DEMGR) suggests it is a derivative of Pelasgian ζάγρα from Indo-European ghǝgh
an elaboration of ghe to remain open-mouthed found for example in ancient Icelandic gj grar rock fissure this
would require assibilization of the - g - The ancients analyzed the word as ζ-αγρεύς = δι-αγρεύς the perfect hunter
a conjecture accepted by Pape and Benseler (WGE) but this is a folk etymology
Category Names of gods
ΖάκυνθοςZAKYNTHOSHero son of the Trojan Dardanos who gave his name to the island (ἡ Ζάκυνθος) This is because - so the story goes -
he was the first person ever to land there coming from Psophis in Arcadia (Pausan 8 24 3) (and for this very reason
the acropolis of the city is called Psophis Strab 10 p 458)
The name can be analyzed as Ζακ- υνθος Carnoy (DEMGR) claims that the etymology is Pelasgian deriving from Indo-
European ghuok to give light Gk δια-φάσσω Lat fax torch Lith zvake candle and that the island was given
this name because being of volcanic origin it was known for its deposits of flammable bitumen The suffix (υ-)νθος is
undoubtedly pre-Hellenic and means that relates to provided with as Van Windekens states (Le Peacutelasgique p 47)
The ethnonym za-ku-si-jo Ζακύνσιος is attested already in Mycenean (PY An 610)
Category Names of heroes
Theme Eponymism
ΖῆλοςZELOSPersonification of envy (Gk ζῆλος) son of Styx brother of Nike Cratos and Bia (Hesiod Theog 383-385)
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The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
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Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
The name is likely derived from δίζηmicroαι ζητέω to pursue seek perhaps related to Greek ζηmicroία damage loss
penalty (Chantraine DELG s v) From Greek ζῆλος deriving from Indo-European ja-lo-s zeal fervor
Category Names of gods
ΖέφυροςZEPHYROSOne of the three principal winds (cf Hesiod Theog 378-380 and Schol ad loc = Acusil Fr 15 Fowler) who are joined
by Euro (the south-west wind Hom Il 2 145-147 16 765) He is the son of Astraeos and Eos and brother of Boreas
and Notos (Hesiod loc cit) By the Harpy Podarge he fathered the two divine horses of Achilles Balios and Xanthos
Hom Il 19 400) Already in the Homeric poems (passim) he personifies the west wind often violent He does not
have a particularly well developed mythology
This name is present in Mycenean cf ze-pu2-ro PY Ea 56 etc The etymology is related to Greek ζόφος darkness
west (Buttmann Lexilogus 114 a cf Frisk Gr Et Woumlrt s v) - namely the cardinal point of the winds origin It
means therefore west (wind)
Category Names of gods
ΖήτηςZETESSon of the wind Boreas brother of Calais a participant in the expedition of the Argonauts At Salmydessos in Thrace
along with his brother - both were winged but apparently mortal in other words demigods - he chased away the
Harpies who were tormenting the king Phineas whose second wife had imprisoned their sister Cleopatra the kings
first wife (Apollod Bibl 3 15 2-5 Apollon Rhod Argon 2 296-297 e Schol ad loc) The tomb of the Boreads was
on the island of Tenos (Hygin Fab 14 18) where they were supposed to have been killed by Heracles (Acusil Fr 31
Fowler apud ApollodBibl 3 15 2)
The name is traceable to ζητέω cf the epithet off Zeus Ζητήρ possiily meaning The Searcher there is no need
to consider it redender Name (cf W Beck in Snell Lex fr Ep col 876) in reference to the pursuit of the Harpies
The etymology from ζάω to live grow (Room Rooms Classical Dictionary p 308 he who blows hard) is unlikely
The Etymologicum Magnum 4117 suggests originally Ζαήτης παρά τὸ ΖΑ καὶ τὸ ἀήτης ὁ microεγάλως πνέων perhaps
correctly in this case from ἄηmicroι to blow we would have he who blows through or even he who blows with
force (Pape-Benseler Stuumlrmer Stormy)
Category Names of gods
Theme Abduction
ΖῆθοςZETHOSSon of Zeus and Antiope of Theban origin together with his twin brother Amphion he avenged his mothers
mistreatment at the hands of Dirce wife of Lycos King of Thebes by strapping her to a bull (Apollod Bibl 3 5 5)
After sending King Laius into exile the twins built the walls of Thebes (Hom Od 11 262-265) one relying on brute
physical force the other (Amphion) moving the boulders magically by playing the lyre (Hesiod Fr 182 Apollon Rhod
37
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
38
Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology - wwwdemgolunitsit
Argon 1 735-741) In Homer (Od 19 518-523) the father of Itylos - the child killed by Aedon daughter of Pandareos
- also bears this name
Already in a Euripidean paretymology (Antiop Fr 2 1) cited by the Etymologicum Magnum s v the name is related
to the verb ζητέω to search for because his mother had searched for a suitable place for giving birth It is more
likely an anthroponym in -θος (Chantraine Formation p 364) perhaps from the root ζη- (to live) with vocalism -
e gwyē- distinct from Ζῆτος (var Ζήτης) which may in fact come from to search for cf Ζήτης However the
form ζέαθος attested papyrologically for Pind Paean 9 44 Sn-Maehl is problematic It has also been suggested (von
Kamptz sect 83) that the name is not Greek but this seems improbable
Category Names of heroes
Theme Foundation
ΖεύςZEUSAncient name of the sky the god of the sky and the day Son of Cronos and Rhea father of gods and men
The etymology is preserved above all in Sanskrit Greek the Italic languages and Hittite The forms given by Frisk (Gr
Et Woumlrt) are Ζεύς = Skr dyaacuteuh Ζῆν = Skr dyam Lat diem Δι-ός (Myc di-wo) -εί (Myc di-we) -ί Δία correspond
to Skr divaacuteh diveacute diviacute diacutevam Innovative forms in Greek are Ζῆν-α with Ζην-ός -ί Benveniste (Origines pp 59-60)
explains that this set of forms depends on the root dei- (Sanskrit di- to shine) The root with suffix -w gives the stem
deacuteiw- the thematic derivation of which is deiwoacute- (Skr devaacute- Lat deus etc) Morphologically this term showed the
variation deacuteiw gen-abl diw-eacuteos from this genitiveablative and from the resulting forms come Δι(Ϝ)-ός Δι(Ϝ)-ί
Δι(Ϝ)-εί Beside deiw- there is the derivative dy-eu dy-ēu- with lengthening of the diphthong Ζεύς of Ζῆν and of
the corresponding Sanskrit forms Carnoy (DEMGR) adds that among the Germanic people Tiu gt Ziu became the god of
war as in English Tues-day a translation of Martis-dies It martedigrave
Category Names of gods
Theme Catasterism
ΖευξίππηZEUXIPPEThe name of various heroines including 1 in Attica the wife of Pandion mother of Erechtheus Procne and Philomela
(Apollod Bibl 3 14 8) 2 the daughter of Hippocoon daughter-in-law of the prophet Melampous whose son
Antiphates she had married (Diod Sic 4 68)
The name means she who yokes horses It is composed of the Greek ζεύγνυmicroι to yoke which derives from the Indo-
European yeug- corresponding to the present in -νυ- with root vocalism -e- a Greek innovation is the stem with a
nasal infix Sanskrit yunaacutek-ti Latin iungo The second part of the name derives from an ancient Indo-European word
ekwo- attested in Sanskrit aacutesva- Latin equus Anglo-Saxon eoh Lithuanian esva Tocharian B yakwe In Greek the
aspiration is undoubtedly secondary and the quality -i- of the initial vowel (ἵππος attested already in Mycenean i-qo
PY Ta 722 etc) remains unexplained as Chantraine affirms(DELG s v ἵππος)
38